Compound name of hydroxyethyl cellulose

The compound name of Hydroxyethyl Cellulose (HEC) reflects its chemical structure and the modifications made to natural cellulose. HEC is a cellulose ether, meaning it is derived from cellulose through a chemical process known as etherification. Specifically, hydroxyethyl groups are introduced onto the cellulose backbone.

The IUPAC (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry) name for Hydroxyethyl Cellulose would be based on the structure of cellulose with the added hydroxyethyl groups. The chemical structure of cellulose is a complex polysaccharide composed of repeating glucose units.

The chemical structure of Hydroxyethyl Cellulose can be represented as:

In this representation:

• The [-O-CH2-CH2-O-] unit represents the cellulose backbone.
• The [-CH2-CH2-OH] groups represent the hydroxyethyl groups introduced through etherification.

Given the complexity of the cellulose structure and the specific sites of hydroxyethylation, providing a systematic IUPAC name for HEC can be challenging. The name often refers to the modification made to cellulose rather than a specific IUPAC nomenclature.

The commonly used name “Hydroxyethyl Cellulose” reflects both the source (cellulose) and the modification (hydroxyethyl groups) in a clear and descriptive manner.