What should be the correct IUPAC name for diethylbromomethane?

From the common name of the given compound, we can deduce there are two –C2H5 groups, one –Br group bound to a CH4 molecule. Bromomethane would appear as CH3—Br. For diethylbromomethane, two ethyl groups can be substituted for the hydrogens in the methyl molecule, forming (C2H5)CH(C2H5)Br. To provide an IUPAC name, we need to identify the longest parent chain. CH3—CH2—CH(Br)—CH2—CH3 is identified as the parent chain, and the –Br group from either side is attached to the third carbon atom. The number of carbons in the parent chain are five, so the compound is called 3-bromopentane. The correct answer is (ii).

1