IUPAC name of the following compound is
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → chlorophenylmethane.
When a halogen is attached to a carbon that is itself attached to a benzene ring (a benzylic halide), the IUPAC name treats the side chain as the parent. In \( \ce{C6H5CH2Cl} \), the parent is methane, carrying a chlorine atom and a phenyl group. So the IUPAC name is chlorophenylmethane (also written as (chloromethyl)benzene), and the common name is benzyl chloride.
When the halogen is attached directly to the ring, the compound is an aryl halide and is named as a substituted benzene, for example 1-chloro-2-methylbenzene (o-chlorotoluene). A name such as 2-chloro-2-methylbenzene is impossible, because one ring carbon cannot carry two substituents.
NCERT (2026-27 edition):
Nomenclature – …
Note: The same/similar question has been asked in different years by NTA as per the details given below:
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11-05 S1 | – | – | 05-06 S3 | – |