Question

Where can an hydroxyl group substitute on a carbon chain that is three carbons in length?

Answer 1

Where would you like it to occur............?

Explanation:

Take a carbon skeleton..........`C-C-C`; there are three carbons but only TWO unique positions for an hydroxyl group, i.e.

`"H"_3"CCH(OH)CH"_3`, or `"H"_3"CCH"_2"CH"_2"OH"`

Extend the chain by increasing the number of carbons you have more possibility of isomerism.

As an extra

The position the alcohol is in along the chain affects the degree of the alcohol.

If the alcohol is bonded to a carbon which is bonded to only 1 other carbon, then the alcohol is a Primary Alcohol.

A Secondary Alcohol is when the alcohol is bonded to a carbon which is bonded to 2 other carbons

A Tertiary Alcohol is when the alcohol is bonded to a carbon which is bonded to 3 other carbons

In the diagram, R represents rest of chain (so a number of carbons)