Is isobutyl alcohol a secondary alcohol ?

Answer

To determine whether isobutyl alcohol is a secondary alcohol, we need to analyze its structure and classification.

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Alcohol Classification**:
- Alcohols are classified based on the carbon atom to which the hydroxyl (-OH) group is attached.
- Primary alcohols have the -OH group attached to a carbon that is bonded to only one other carbon atom.
- Secondary alcohols have the -OH group attached to a carbon that is bonded to two other carbon atoms.
- Tertiary alcohols have the -OH group attached to a carbon that is bonded to three other carbon atoms.

2. **Drawing the Structure of Isobutyl Alcohol**:
- The molecular formula for isobutyl alcohol is C4H10O.
- The structure can be represented as:
```
CH3-CH(CH3)-CH2-OH
```
- Here, the -OH group is attached to the second carbon in the chain.

3. **Identifying the Carbon Bonding**:
- In the structure of isobutyl alcohol, the carbon atom that carries the -OH group (the second carbon) is bonded to two other carbon atoms (the first and third carbons).
- This means that the carbon with the -OH group is connected to two other carbon atoms.

4. **Conclusion**:
- Since the -OH group is attached to a carbon that is bonded to two other carbons, isobutyl alcohol is classified as a **secondary alcohol**.

### Final Answer:
Isobutyl alcohol is a **secondary alcohol**.