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Compound P and compound Q are straight-chain constitutional (structural) isomers with the molecular formula C5H12O. Compound P can form optical isomers, whereas compound Q cannot. When reacted with concentrated sulfuric acid, compound P forms two products, compounds R and S; compound Q forms only one product, compound S.

How come compound Q is pentan-1-ol and not pentan-3-ol?

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  • $\begingroup$ @The_Vinz There is no much place for so- called geometrical isomerism here nor the text is suggesting that. You somehow mixed up description and nomenclature. OP should show some reasoning on h. side otherwise I'm afraid it is a homework Q $\endgroup$ – Alchimista Jul 16 at 10:22
  • $\begingroup$ Woops you are right, I lost the point and misunderstood the question $\endgroup$ – The_Vinz Jul 16 at 11:06
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Q is pentan-1-ol and not pentan-3-ol as on dehydration, of pental-1-ol, only one product (alkene) is formed. Whereas on dehydration of pentan-3-ol, we get two alkenes, as the alkene can show geometrical isomerism.

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  • $\begingroup$ Why the downvote? $\endgroup$ – user600016 Jul 18 at 13:16
  • $\begingroup$ Probably because you have attacked the dehydration / geometrical isomerism issue, too, without considering the optical isomerism. $\endgroup$ – Alchimista Jul 25 at 10:29

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