What is the IUPAC name of the organic compound formed in the following chemical reaction ?

The correct option is 2-methyl butan-2-ol.

To understand how this IUPAC name is determined, let us analyze the structure of the product molecule, which is represented by the formula:
CH₃-C(OH)(CH₃)-CH₂-CH₃

We can determine its systematic IUPAC name step-by-step using the following rules:

1. Identify the longest carbon chain:
The principal functional group is the hydroxyl (-OH) group. The longest continuous carbon chain containing the carbon bonded to the -OH group consists of 4 carbon atoms. Thus, the parent alkane is butane.

2. Number the carbon chain:
We number the main chain starting from the end that gives the lowest locant (position number) to the carbon bonded to the principal functional group (-OH):
- Numbering from left to right: C1 (CH₃) → C2 (C-OH) → C3 (CH₂) → C4 (CH₃). The hydroxyl group is at carbon-2.
- Numbering from right to left: C1 (CH₃) → C2 (CH₂) → C3 (C-OH) → C4 (CH₃). The hydroxyl group is at carbon-3.
Since 2 is lower than 3, we number the chain from left to right. This also places the hydroxyl suffix at position 2 (butan-2-ol).

3. Identify substituents and their positions:
There is a methyl group (-CH₃) attached to carbon-2 of the main chain, giving the prefix 2-methyl.

4. Combine the prefix and the parent name:
Combining the prefix and parent name yields the final IUPAC name: 2-methyl butan-2-ol.