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Chapter 12: Problem 2

How many carbon atoms are present in each molecule? a. 2 -methylbutane b. 3-ethylpentane

Short Answer

Expert verified
2-methylbutane has 5 carbon atoms; 3-ethylpentane has 7 carbon atoms.

Step by step solution

01

Understand the Naming Convention

The IUPAC nomenclature for organic compounds designates the parent chain and any substituents attached to it. In 2-methylbutane, the parent chain is 'butane', which means there are 4 carbon atoms in the straight chain. Similarly, for 3-ethylpentane, 'pentane' is the parent chain, indicating 5 carbon atoms.
02

Identify and Count Substituents

In 2-methylbutane, a 'methyl' group is an -CH3 group attached to the second carbon of the butane chain, adding 1 more carbon, making a total of 5 carbon atoms. In 3-ethylpentane, an 'ethyl' group is a -CH2CH3 group attached to the third carbon of the pentane chain, adding 2 more carbon atoms, totaling 7 carbon atoms.
03

Calculate Total Carbons

Add the carbons from the main chain and the substituents. For 2-methylbutane, it's 4 (from butane) + 1 (from methyl), equaling 5 carbon atoms. For 3-ethylpentane, it's 5 (from pentane) + 2 (from ethyl), equaling 7 carbon atoms.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

IUPAC nomenclature
The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) provides a systematic way of naming organic compounds to ensure clarity and uniformity worldwide. IUPAC nomenclature involves understanding three main components in a compound's name:
  • Parent name: This indicates the longest continuous chain of carbon atoms. For example, 'butane' refers to a chain of four carbon atoms, while 'pentane' refers to a chain of five.
  • Substituents: These are groups attached to the main chain. They are named as prefixes, like 'methyl' (-CH鈧�) or 'ethyl' (-CH鈧侰H鈧�).
  • Locants: Numbers or indicators denote the position of substituents on the carbon chain, such as '2-' in 2-methylbutane or '3-' in 3-ethylpentane.
With these components, IUPAC names convey the structure of organic molecules, allowing us to identify the number and position of carbon atoms and substituents.
carbon atoms counting
Counting carbon atoms in an organic compound's structure involves two key steps. First, identify the parent chain of the compound, which usually dictates the name's base. For example, in 'butane', the base name informs us that the main chain consists of four carbon atoms, while 'pentane' suggests five.
Next, consider any substituents listed in the compound's name. Each substituent adds additional carbon atoms. For instance, a 'methyl' group adds one carbon, and an 'ethyl' group two. By gathering this information, one can accurately sum the total carbon atoms present in the compound. This process is crucial for determining molecular formulas and understanding compound structures.
organic compounds naming
Naming organic compounds in a methodical manner is essential to avoid confusion in scientific communication. IUPAC names are designed to provide clear guidance on both the molecular structure and individual components of a compound.
  • Start by identifying the longest carbon chain in the molecule, which becomes the parent name.
  • Locate and identify each substituent group attached to this main chain.
  • Assign a locant to each substituent, ensuring the smallest possible number is used for the position indicator.
  • Combine these elements into a coherent IUPAC name, using hyphens and commas to separate numbers and words as needed.
Through these steps, naming reflects the compound's structure, enabling others to recreate or visualize it from the name alone. This system is essential not only for tracking chemical inventory but also for conducting research and understanding organic chemistry dynamics.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Write the condensed structural formulas for the four isomers that have the molecular formula \(\mathrm{C}_{4} \mathrm{H}_{9} \mathrm{Br}\). Give the IUPAC name of each.

Draw the structure for each compound. a. 2-methylpentane b. 4 -ethyl-2-methylhexane c. \(2,2,3,3\) -tetramethylbutane

Which member of each pair has a higher melting point? a. \(\mathrm{CH}_{3} \mathrm{O} \mathrm{H}\) and \(\mathrm{NaOH}\) b. \(\mathrm{CH}_{3} \mathrm{Cl}\) and \(\mathrm{KCl}\)

Write the condensed structural formula for each compound. a. ethyl bromide b. carbon tetrachloride

How many carbon atoms are present in each molecule? a. 2,3-dimethylbutane b. 3 -ethyl-2-methylheptane
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