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Multiple Choice
Which of the following is a correct IUPAC name for a compound with the molecular formula C4H10?
A
methylbutane
B
butane
C
isobutane
D
2-methylpropane
Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Understand the molecular formula C4H10, which indicates the compound is an alkane with four carbon atoms and ten hydrogen atoms.
Step 2: Recognize that alkanes are saturated hydrocarbons, meaning they only contain single bonds between carbon atoms.
Step 3: Identify the longest continuous chain of carbon atoms in the structure. For C4H10, the longest chain can be either four carbons (butane) or three carbons with a branch (propane with a methyl group).
Step 4: Apply IUPAC naming rules: The longest chain determines the base name (propane for three carbons). The branch is a methyl group, hence the name becomes 2-methylpropane.
Step 5: Verify the name: Ensure the name reflects the structure accurately, with the methyl group on the second carbon of the propane chain, confirming the name 2-methylpropane.