Numbering alcohols

[garrett_perozich]

Is 4,4-dimethyl-2-hexanol the same thing as 4,4-dimethylhexan-2-ol? In other words, can we number the location of the alcohol before the "ol" and have it represent the same molecule as if we numbered before the longest carbon chain?

[Alina_Mitchell_2C]

I think you can do this as long as there is only single bonds, cause if there is a double bond, you have to identify both where the double bond is and where the alcohol group is, so they both can't be put in the front

[Diana_Visco_1l]

This thought process works if the described alcohol is an alkane (only single bods present). If the molecule is an alkene (double bond) then, the before the suffix of the alcohol, you must indicate where the double bond is located. This is because an alcohol isn't a terminal atom, numbers are vital for indicating location.