Question

Write the IUPAC name of the compound.

Answer 1

According to IUPAC (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry), whenever we are going to write the IUPAC name of a compound, we have to give numbering first to functional groups or highly substituted carbon. Means lower numbering should be a functional group or highly substituted carbon present in the molecule or compound.

Complete step by step answer:
- Whenever we are going to write the IUPAC name, we should identify the parent chain or long chain in the given compound.
- The given structure of the compound is

- The long chain contains 3 carbons in the given compound.

- At carbon-1 there is one carboxylic acid as a substituent.

- At carbon-2 there are two substituents, one substituent is –OH group and the other substituent is carboxylic acid.

- At carbon-3 there is one carboxylic acid as a substituent.

- Means three carboxylic acid groups are attached to three different carbon atoms in the given compound.

- Therefore the IUPAC name of the given compound is 2-hydroxy propane-1,2,3-tricarboxylic acid.

Note: Choosing a parent chain is a crucial step while writing IUPAC names for organic compounds. There is a –OH group at carbon-2 that is why 2-hydroxy as written in IUPAC name.The parent chain contains three carbon atoms so the IUPAC name is written as propane.Three carboxylic acids are present at carbon-1, carbon-2 and carbon-3 so we are supposed to write 1,2,3-tricarboxylic acid in IUPAC name.