The line-angle representation of methanol shows the letters “OH” attached to a carbon…
CHEMISTRY · Single correct · A Level · Chemistry · Introduction to organic chemistry · Introduction to organic chemistry
Problem
The line-angle representation of methanol shows the letters “OH” attached to a carbon vertex, but the three hydrogens bonded to the carbon are omitted. Which of the following best explains this convention?
(a) Only hydrogens capable of hydrogen bonding are drawn explicitly to emphasize intermolecular forces.
(b) Hydrogen atoms on sp3 carbons are generally omitted, whereas those on heteroatoms or sp2 carbons are shown; therefore the three carbon hydrogens are left out but the O–H hydrogen appears.
(c) Carbon-bound hydrogens are omitted because carbon is assumed to complete a valence of four, whereas hydrogens on heteroatoms must be shown to avoid ambiguity in the heteroatom’s valence.
(d) Hydrogens on carbon are omitted because C–H bonds are considered non-polar, whereas the polar O–H bond must be shown explicitly.