See image — IUPAC and Nomenclature Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

Concept: IUPAC nomenclature of polyhydric phenols (diols on a benzene ring). Step 1: Identify the compound. The structure shows a benzene ring with two hydroxyl (-OH) groups on adjacent carbons (positions 1 and 2), making it a benzene diol (catechol). Step 2: Apply IUPAC rules. When naming benzene derivatives with multiple identical substituents, the parent chain is 'benzene' and the suffix '-diol' is used for two -OH groups. The locants 1 and 2 indicate the positions of the two -OH groups. Therefore, the IUPAC name is Benzene-1,2-diol. Step 3: Evaluate each option: (a) 2-Hydroxybenzenol - Incorrect; 'benzenol' is not a valid IUPAC parent name and this format is not standard. (b) 1,2-Dihydroxybenzene - This is a common/substitutive name but not the preferred IUPAC name; the preferred IUPAC format uses the '-diol' suffix rather than 'dihydroxy' prefix. (c) Benzene-1,2-diol - Correct; this follows the preferred IUPAC nomenclature where benzene is the parent and '-1,2-diol' indicates two -OH groups at positions 1 and 2. (d) 2-Hydroxyphenol - Incorrect; 'phenol' as parent implies one -OH is already part of the parent name, but this usage is a retained/trivial name format and not the preferred IUPAC name for this compound. Therefore, the correct answer is C.