Question

A hydrogen atom is removed from the first carbon atom of a butane molecule and is replaced by a hydroxyl group.

Answer 1

Answer:

See answer below

Explanation:

In this case, let's draw the butane molecule:

CH₃ - CH₂ - CH₂ - CH₃

According to what the exercise states, we removed an atom of hydrogen from the frist carbon. This could be any of the terminals. I'll grab the first from left to right.

CH₂⁺ - CH₂ - CH₂ - CH₃

When this happens, the atom of carbon is lacking one space and it forms a carbocation.

Followed this step, an hydroxile group replace the atom of hydrogen. The hydroxile is the OH, and when we have an alkane with an OH group in the molecule, we are actually converting this molecule into an alcohol, therefore the molecule formed is:

OH - CH₂ - CH₂ - CH₂ - CH₃

Hope this helps