butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) is a common preservative added to cereals and other dry foods. Its systematic name is 1 -hydroxy-2,6-di-tert- butyl-4-methylbenzene (tert-butyl is the common name for 1,1 -dimethylethyl). Draw the structure of BHT.

Short Answer

Expert verified
BHT has a benzene ring with -OH at position 1, -CH3 at position 4, and -C(CH3)3 at positions 2 and 6.

Step by step solution

01

- Identify the Benzene Ring

Start by drawing a benzene ring, which is a hexagon with alternating double bonds inside.
02

- Add the Hydroxy Group at Position 1

At position 1 of the benzene ring, add an -OH group (also known as a hydroxy group).
03

- Add the Methyl Group at Position 4

At position 4 of the benzene ring, add a -CH3 group (also known as a methyl group).
04

- Add the tert-Butyl Groups at Positions 2 and 6

At positions 2 and 6 of the benzene ring, add -C(CH3)3 groups (these are the tert-butyl groups).

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with Vaia!

Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Systematic Nomenclature
Systematic nomenclature is a method of naming chemical compounds in a standardized way. It helps chemists communicate clearly and precisely about specific molecules. The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) sets the rules for naming compounds.

The systematic name for BHT is 1-hydroxy-2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylbenzene. This name offers a lot of information:
  • '1-hydroxy' means there is an -OH group attached at the first carbon atom of the benzene ring.
  • '2,6-di-tert-butyl' indicates that there are tert-butyl groups attached to the second and sixth carbon atoms.
  • '4-methyl' reveals a methyl group attached at the fourth position.
By following these rules, one can easily decipher the structure of BHT, or any other systematically named compound.
Benzene Ring
A benzene ring is a fundamental structure in organic chemistry. It is a six-membered carbon ring with alternating double bonds, often represented as a hexagon. Benzene rings are characterized by their stability due to resonance, where electrons are delocalized across all six carbon atoms.

In BHT:
  • The base structure is a benzene ring.
  • The presence of alternating double bonds is key to its stability.
Understanding the benzene ring is crucial because it serves as a backbone in many organic compounds.
Functional Groups
Functional groups are specific groups of atoms within molecules that determine the characteristics and chemical reactivity of those molecules. Common functional groups include hydroxyl (-OH), methyl (-CH3), and tert-butyl (-(CH3)3).

In BHT:
  • A hydroxyl group (-OH) is attached to the first position of the benzene ring.
  • Methyl groups (-CH3) are attached at the fourth position.
  • Tert-butyl groups (-(CH3)3) are attached at the second and sixth positions.
Identifying these functional groups helps to predict how the molecule will behave in chemical reactions and interactions.

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

(a) Draw the four isomers of \(\mathrm{C}_{5} \mathrm{H}_{12} \mathrm{O}\) that can be oxidized to an aldehyde. (b) Draw the three isomers of \(\mathrm{C}_{5} \mathrm{H}_{12} \mathrm{O}\) that can be oxidized to a ketone. (c) Draw the isomers of \(\mathrm{C}_{5} \mathrm{H}_{12} \mathrm{O}\) that cannot be easily oxidized to an aldehyde or a ketone. (d) Name any isomer that is an alcohol.

Compound A, composed of \(\mathrm{C}, \mathrm{H},\) and \(\mathrm{O},\) is heated in a 1.00-L flask to \(160 .^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\) until all of the A has vaporized and displaced the air. The flask is then cooled, and \(2.48 \mathrm{~g}\) of A remains. When \(0.500 \mathrm{~g}\) of \(\mathrm{A}\) burns in \(\mathrm{O}_{2}, 0.409 \mathrm{~g}\) of \(\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}\) and \(1.00 \mathrm{~g}\) of \(\mathrm{CO}_{2}\) are produced. Compound A is not acidic, but it can be oxidized to compound \(\mathrm{B}\), which is weakly acidic: \(1.000 \mathrm{~g}\) of \(\mathrm{B}\) is neutralized with \(33.9 \mathrm{~mL}\) of \(0.5 \mathrm{M}\) sodium hydroxide. When \(\mathrm{B}\) is heated to \(260^{\circ} \mathrm{C},\) it gives off water and forms \(\mathrm{C}\), which, in solution in \(\mathrm{CDCl}_{3}\) (where \(\mathrm{D}\) is deuterium, \({ }^{2} \mathrm{H}\) ), has one peak in its \({ }^{1} \mathrm{H}\) -NMR spectrum. (a) What are the structures of \(\mathrm{A}, \mathrm{B},\) and \(\mathrm{C} ?\) (b) Compound \(\mathrm{A}\) is a controlled substance because it is metabolized to the weakly acidic "date rape" drug \(\mathrm{GHB}, \mathrm{C}_{4} \mathrm{H}_{8} \mathrm{O}_{3} .\) What are the structure and name of \(\mathrm{GHB}\) ?

In terms of numbers of reactant and product substances, which organic reaction type corresponds to (a) a combination reaction, (b) a decomposition reaction, (c) a displacement reaction?

Breaking the \(\mathrm{C}=\mathrm{C} \pi\) bond in a retinal molecule in the eye requires approximately \(250 \mathrm{~kJ} / \mathrm{mol}\). Find the longest wavelength (in \(\mathrm{nm}\) ) of visible light that has the energy to break that \(\pi\) bond.

Draw all aldehydes and ketones with the formula \(\mathrm{C}_{5} \mathrm{H}_{10} \mathrm{O}\)

See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Chemistry Textbooks

View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.

Sign-up for free