Re: What does amyl mean in such chemical terms as amyl acetate and amyl alcohol

Kevin;

The prefix "amyl" refers to any 5 carbon unit (C5H11). Another name for 
amyl is pentyl.  There are 8 different ways one can represent a 5 carbon 
atom unit attached to another group such as an OH group in amyl alcohol.

1. C-C-C-C-C-OH; a straight chain refered to as n-pentyl
2. C-C(C)-C-C-OH; a four carbon chain with a single carbon branch at C-3
(numbering of the carbon atoms starts at the carbon with the attached OH)
3. C-C-C(C)-C-OH; a four carbon chain with a single carbon branch at C-2
4. C-C-C-C(C)-OH; a four carbon chain with a single carbon branch at C-1
5. C-C(C)(C)-C-OH; a three carbon branch with two carbons each at C-2
6. C-C-C(C)(C)-OH; a three carbon branch with two carbons each at C-1
7. C-C(C)-C(C)-OH; a three carbon branch with carbons each at C-1 and C-2
8. C-C-C(C-C)-OH; a three carbon branch with a two carbon chain at C-1

Amyl alcohol could be any one of the eight isomeric alcohols.  In present 
day terminology, amyl is often accompanied by a prefix to indicate which 
isomer is designated.  For example, n-amyl alcohol refers to isomer #1; t-
amyl alcohol refers to isomer #5. Most chemists do not use the amyl prefix 
anymore but refer to the more "official" name (such as n-pentyl in example 
#1)as designated by the IUPAC (International Union of Pure and Applied 
Chemistry). 

I hope this helps.  If you need more examples of amyl isomers refer to any 
chemical dictionary which you should be able to find in your local library.