Question

One of the compounds used to extract bismuth from its ores is 3-methylbutan-2-one (also known as 3-methyl-2-butanone) How do you draw the structural formula of this compound?

Answer 1

`H_3C-C(=O)CH(CH_3)CH_3`

Explanation:

I have just drawn a butyl chain, and substituted it at `2C`, and `3C` - I think this is unambiguous. Most chemists would call this `"MIBK"`, `"methylisobutylketone"`