How many of the following drugs belong to the tranquilizer class _____________ ?
Veronal, Luminal, Propanal, Seconal

Solution

Chemistry ma’am · 3 steps

Spot the barbiturates, then look hard at the odd name out: propanal is just an aldehyde.

1. Barbiturates. Barbiturates are derivatives of barbituric acid. They are hypnotic tranquilizers, meaning they calm the nervous system and induce sleep.

   Name	What it is	Tranquilizer?
   Veronal	barbital, a barbiturate	yes
   Luminal	phenobarbital, a barbiturate	yes
   Seconal	secobarbital, a barbiturate	yes
   Propanal	CH₃CH₂CHO, a simple aldehyde	no

2. The odd one out. Propanal sounds like a drug name, but it is the three-carbon aldehyde. It has no use as a tranquilizer. Do not confuse it with equanil (meprobamate), which is a real tranquilizer.
3. So. Veronal, Luminal and Seconal are tranquilizers, so the count is 3.

The common slip: 4. Counting propanal as a drug gives 4. It is an aldehyde, not a tranquilizer.

The idea to keep. Veronal, amytal, nembutal, luminal and seconal are all barbiturates, so all are tranquilizers. In a list of drug names, check for a plain organic compound slipped in to catch you.

Answer from the NTA final answer key. Solution by PrepWiser.