MCAT Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems Practice Exam

Pentanal is commonly known as valeraldehyde. This is because its structure consists of a five-carbon straight chain with an aldehyde functional group, which classifies it under aldehydes. The name "valeraldehyde" derives from the Latin root "valer" associated with valeric acid, which is a carboxylic acid with a similar carbon chain length. However, it is important to note that pentanal is specifically an aldehyde, which accentuates its distinction from compounds like valeric acid that contain a carboxylic acid functional group. The name "valeraldehyde" is directly indicative of its structural makeup and functional group, making it the correct designation for pentanal.