Which structure corresponds to 2-methylbutan-2-ol?

The correct structure for 2-methylbutan-2-ol is most accurately represented by the first structure. To understand this, we need to consider the systematic naming of the compound.

The name "2-methylbutan-2-ol" indicates a few key features:

1. The "butan" part refers to a four-carbon chain (butane).

2. The "2-methyl" indicates that there is a methyl (–CH3) group attached to the second carbon of the butane chain.

3. The "2-ol" signifies that there is a hydroxyl group (–OH) attached to the second carbon, which gives it alcohol properties.

By examining the structure corresponding to the name, we identify a four-carbon backbone where the second carbon is bonded to both a hydroxyl group (indicating that it is an alcohol) and a methyl group. This matches the first structure, where the second carbon has both a –OH and a –CH3 substituent attached.

The remaining structures do not fit the name of the compound:

• The second structure has an incorrect positioning of the hydroxyl and does not place the methyl group according to the IUPAC naming.

• The third structure does not contain a