Should I write propanol or propan-1-ol?
Propanol can refer to both propan-1-ol and propan-2-ol.



Earlier we used notations like 1-propanol or 2-propanol. But according to latest IUPAC recommendations, we prefer names like propan-1-ol and propan-2-ol.

For compounds like aldehydes, carboxylic acids and for other compounds involving carbon centered functional groups, we need not mention position because we always consider the carbon of these functional groups as the 1 carbon.

But, for alcohols, as in this case, position should be mentioned for being more specific.