Table of contents

1. A Review of General Chemistry5h 5m
2. Molecular Representations1h 14m
3. Acids and Bases2h 46m
4. Alkanes and Cycloalkanes4h 17m
5. Chirality3h 39m
6. Thermodynamics and Kinetics1h 22m
7. Substitution Reactions1h 48m
8. Elimination Reactions2h 30m
9. Alkenes and Alkynes2h 9m
10. Addition Reactions3h 19m
11. Radical Reactions1h 58m
12. Alcohols, Ethers, Epoxides and Thiols2h 42m
13. Alcohols and Carbonyl Compounds2h 17m
14. Synthetic Techniques1h 26m
15. Analytical Techniques:IR, NMR, Mass Spect7h 3m
16. Conjugated Systems6h 13m
17. Ultraviolet Spectroscopy51m
18. Aromaticity2h 34m
19. Reactions of Aromatics: EAS and Beyond5h 1m
20. Phenols55m
21. Aldehydes and Ketones: Nucleophilic Addition4h 56m
22. Carboxylic Acid Derivatives: NAS2h 51m
23. The Chemistry of Thioesters, Phophate Ester and Phosphate Anhydrides1h 10m
24. Enolate Chemistry: Reactions at the Alpha-Carbon1h 53m
25. Condensation Chemistry2h 9m
26. Amines1h 43m
27. Heterocycles2h 0m
28. Carbohydrates5h 53m
29. Amino Acids4h 20m
30. Peptides and Proteins2h 42m
31. Catalysis in Organic Reactions1h 30m
32. Lipids 2h 50m
33. The Organic Chemistry of Metabolic Pathways2h 52m
34. Nucleic Acids1h 32m
35. Transition Metals6h 14m
36. Synthetic Polymers1h 49m

1. A Review of General Chemistry

Skeletal Structure

Organic Chemistry

1. A Review of General Chemistry

Skeletal Structure

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Problem 6a

Textbook Question

How many hydrogens would you expect a 24-carbon compound from each of the following molecular classes to have?
(a) Alkane

Verified step by step guidance

Step 1: Recall the general formula for alkanes, which is C_nH_2n+2. This formula represents the number of hydrogens in a saturated hydrocarbon (alkane) with n carbons.

Step 2: Identify the number of carbons in the given compound. In this case, the compound has 24 carbons, so n = 24.

Step 3: Substitute n = 24 into the general formula for alkanes. The formula becomes H_2(24)+2, which simplifies to H₅₀.

Step 4: Understand that this result represents the total number of hydrogens in a 24-carbon alkane, assuming the molecule is fully saturated and contains no double bonds, triple bonds, or rings.

Step 5: Verify the logic by considering the structure of alkanes: each carbon forms four bonds, and in a straight-chain alkane, the hydrogens fill all remaining bonding positions.

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Key Concepts

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

Alkanes

Alkanes are saturated hydrocarbons characterized by single bonds between carbon atoms. The general formula for alkanes is CnH2n+2, where 'n' represents the number of carbon atoms. This formula indicates that for every carbon atom, there are two additional hydrogen atoms, plus two more for the terminal carbons. Therefore, a 24-carbon alkane would have 2(24) + 2 = 50 hydrogen atoms.

Saturation

Saturation in organic chemistry refers to the presence of single bonds between carbon atoms, meaning that the molecule is fully 'saturated' with hydrogen atoms. Saturated compounds, like alkanes, do not contain double or triple bonds, which would reduce the number of hydrogen atoms. Understanding saturation is crucial for predicting the hydrogen count in hydrocarbons based on their structure.

Molecular Formula

A molecular formula provides a concise representation of the number and types of atoms in a compound. For alkanes, the molecular formula reflects the relationship between carbon and hydrogen atoms, allowing for quick calculations of hydrogen counts based on the number of carbon atoms. This concept is essential for determining the expected number of hydrogens in various molecular classes.