[physstudent1]

I have a structure that I named 2-ethyl-2-methyl-1-butanol  it has a central carbon that has 2 ethyl groups coming off it 1 methyl group and a ch2-OH group so i started numbering at the C connected to the O and go thte name.  I need to write the formula though for my homework like CH3CH3C.. etc I thought (C₂H₅)₂C(CH₃)CH₂OH would be correct but webassign told me it was wrong? can anyone help I know its kind of hard to picture what I'm saying but I don't know how I can show you sorry.

[macman104]

Hmmm...maybe try...

(CH3CH2)2C(CH3)CH2OH?  Not sure, that's kinda annoying.

Or maybe they just want the chemical formula, so C_xH_yO_z

[physstudent1]

yea i already got it it wrong using my tries but the way you suggested seems like it would be the right answer, webassign is very annoying I'm pretty sure it wanted the way you typed not C_xH_yO_z  but either way would the name I gave it be correct it didn't ask for the name but I want to make sure I can name them.

[macman104]

one correction, you need to indicate that there are 2 ethyls.

2,2-diethyl-2-methyl-1-butanol

Also, technically, I believe you should split up the name 1-butanol to butan-1-ol, so

2,2-diethyl-2-methylbutan-1-ol.

[physstudent1]

oh ok actually i was thinking of it as if there were 2 methyls  and 1 ethyl since the main chain will be longer then but I'm not sure if its right thanks a lot

[macman104]

Which one?

Sorry for the paint drawings, new computer haven't installed my chem software yet.