Draw a straight-chain alkane with 6 carbon atoms as a condensed structure and as a line drawing.

Verified step by step guidance

Step 1: Understand that a straight-chain alkane with 6 carbon atoms is called hexane. Alkanes are hydrocarbons with only single bonds between carbon atoms.

Step 2: For the condensed structure, write the molecular formula for hexane, which is C₆H₁₄. This indicates 6 carbon atoms and 14 hydrogen atoms.

Step 3: Construct the condensed structural formula by arranging the carbon atoms in a straight line and attaching the appropriate number of hydrogen atoms to each carbon. The condensed formula for hexane is CH₃(CH₂)₄CH₃.

Step 4: For the line drawing, represent each carbon atom as a vertex (or end of a line) and each bond as a line. In line drawings, hydrogen atoms are typically not shown explicitly.

Step 5: Draw a zigzag line with 5 segments, where each vertex represents a carbon atom. This is the line drawing representation of hexane.

Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Alkanes

Alkanes are saturated hydrocarbons consisting only of carbon (C) and hydrogen (H) atoms, connected by single bonds. They follow the general formula CnH2n+2, where 'n' is the number of carbon atoms. Alkanes are characterized by their relatively low reactivity and are commonly found in natural gas and petroleum.

Condensed Structural Formula

A condensed structural formula is a way of representing a chemical structure that shows the arrangement of atoms in a molecule without depicting all the bonds explicitly. In this format, groups of atoms are grouped together, making it easier to visualize larger molecules. For example, the condensed formula for hexane (C6H14) is often written as CH3(CH2)4CH3.

Line Drawing (Skeletal Structure)

Line drawings, or skeletal structures, are a simplified way of representing organic molecules where carbon atoms are represented by the ends and intersections of lines. Hydrogen atoms are usually omitted for carbon atoms, as they are implied. This method allows for a clearer visualization of the molecular framework, especially for larger alkanes like hexane.

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Guided course

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Skeletal Formula

Related Practice

Textbook Question

Propose structures and draw condensed formulas for molecules that meet the following descriptions.

Textbook Question

Give line drawings for each of the following molecular formulas. You may have to use rings and/or multiple bonds in some instances.

(a) C₂H₇N

Textbook Question

Methionine, one of the 20 amino acid building blocks from which proteins are made, has the following structure. What is the chemical formula of methionine? In writing the for-mula, list the element symbols in alphabetical order, and give the number of each element as a subscript.