Question

Can someone explain for organic chemistry naming, when something would be given something like "iso" in it or when we would say "s-butyl" or "t-propyl" etc., with "s" meaning secondary and "t" meaning tertiary.

Answer 1

Here is a try at it.
C
|
C
|
C
|
OH
is n-propyl alcohol. n is for normal.

C
|
C-OH
|
C
is for isopropyl alcohol, sometimes called secondary propyl alcohol or s-propyl alcohol. The iso alcohol has the C, to which the OH is attached, attached to two other carbons. The tertiary has three other carbons attached. For example,

C
&nbsp\
&nbsp&nbspC-OH
&nbsp/
C

It's difficult to draw these structures on the boards. I hope this look ok.

Answer 2

I didn't get it right. The central C has only three bonds. Attach another C to the central carbon (the one to which the OH is attached). As I say, it's difficult to draw these things on the board.

Answer 3

The last one is t-butyl alcohol.

Answer 4

Thanks, for the help, although the last one doesn't look right, I understand it now. Thank You.