MCQ Detailed View

The compound with the chemical formula C₆H₅–CO–CH₃ is called acetophenone. It is an aromatic ketone, meaning it has both an aromatic ring (benzene, C₆H₅–) and a carbonyl group (–CO–) directly attached to a methyl group (–CH₃).

In acetophenone, the carbonyl group is bonded to two different groups: a phenyl group (C₆H₅–) and a methyl group (–CH₃). This makes it a simple example of an aromatic ketone. Ketones are characterized by the presence of a carbonyl group (C=O) in which the carbon atom is bonded to two other carbon atoms.

Let us compare the given options:

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  Acetone (CH₃–CO–CH₃): This is the simplest ketone, with two methyl groups attached to the carbonyl carbon. It does not have a phenyl group.

  
  


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  Acetic acid (CH₃–COOH): This compound is a carboxylic acid, not a ketone. Its functional group is –COOH.

  
  


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  Acetophenone (C₆H₅–CO–CH₃): This matches the given formula. It is a ketone with a phenyl and methyl group attached to the carbonyl.

  
  


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  Phenyl acetate (C₆H₅–O–CO–CH₃): This is an ester, where the oxygen atom links the phenyl group to the carbonyl group.

  
  

Acetophenone is a colorless liquid with a pleasant odor. It occurs naturally in some fruits and is used in perfumes, flavoring agents, and as a solvent. It also has applications in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals and organic compounds.

In organic chemistry, acetophenone is often studied as an example of aromatic ketones because its structure clearly shows how the carbonyl group interacts with an aromatic ring. The resonance from the benzene ring influences the reactivity of the carbonyl group, making it an important compound in understanding reaction mechanisms like electrophilic substitution and nucleophilic addition.

Thus, the chemical formula C₆H₅–CO–CH₃ represents acetophenone.