Step 1: Understanding the Concept
The figure shows a seven-membered ring with an OH on one ring carbon, a methyl group and an ethyl group on other ring carbons. The parent is cycloheptanol, and the carbon with OH is C-1.
Step 2: Key Formula or Approach
Rules: OH gets locant 1. Then choose the direction giving the lowest set of locants to substituents. If the sets tie, the alphabetically first substituent gets the lower number.
Step 3: Detailed Explanation
From the OH carbon, going one way the ethyl-bearing carbon is third and the methyl-bearing carbon is sixth. Going the other way, it is the methyl-bearing carbon that is third and the ethyl-bearing carbon that is sixth. The locant set is \(\{3,6\}\) either way.
Ethyl comes before methyl alphabetically, so ethyl takes 3 and methyl takes 6.
Name: 3-ethyl-6-methylcycloheptanol.
Option (A) puts methyl at 3 and ethyl at 6, which breaks the alphabetical tie rule.
Final Answer:
The compound is 3-ethyl-6-methylcycloheptanol, option (C).
\[ \boxed{\text{3-Ethyl-6-methylcycloheptanol (C)}} \]
