Hi, I need help with Hydrocarbons. I can name them however, I don't understand how you write the number of hydrogens in a structure:
a) CH3-CH2-CH3 (How come there's 3 hydrogens in the beginning and 3 in the end, and 2 in the middle)
b) CH3-CH(CH3)-CH3 (Same thing)
I understand that Carbon can only bond with 4 atoms, but I still don't grasp the concept. I might have some questions of naming later, but for the basic stuff, I get it right now. Thanks in advance for help.
a) CH3-CH2-CH3 (How come there's 3 hydrogens in the beginning and 3 in the end, and 2 in the middle)
b) CH3-CH(CH3)-CH3 (Same thing)
I understand that Carbon can only bond with 4 atoms, but I still don't grasp the concept. I might have some questions of naming later, but for the basic stuff, I get it right now. Thanks in advance for help.
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a) The carbons on each end have three bonds to hydrogens and one bond to the carbon in the center.
The carbon in the center has two bonds to hydrogens and two bonds (one each) to the outside carbons. Each carbon has a total of four bonds. (This is propane.)
b) The carbon on the left has three bonds to hydrogens and one bond to the carbon on its right. The next carbon to the right ("CH") has one bond to the carbon on its left, one bond to the methyl group in parentheses and one bond to the carbon on its right ("CH3"). The methyl group (CH3 inside parentheses) consists of one carbon atom which has three bonds to hydrogens and one to the carbon in the chain ("CH"). The carbon on the far right has three bonds to hydrogens and one to the carbon on its left. Each carbon has four bonds. (This is 2-methylpropane, or isobutane.)
The carbon in the center has two bonds to hydrogens and two bonds (one each) to the outside carbons. Each carbon has a total of four bonds. (This is propane.)
b) The carbon on the left has three bonds to hydrogens and one bond to the carbon on its right. The next carbon to the right ("CH") has one bond to the carbon on its left, one bond to the methyl group in parentheses and one bond to the carbon on its right ("CH3"). The methyl group (CH3 inside parentheses) consists of one carbon atom which has three bonds to hydrogens and one to the carbon in the chain ("CH"). The carbon on the far right has three bonds to hydrogens and one to the carbon on its left. Each carbon has four bonds. (This is 2-methylpropane, or isobutane.)