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Chapter 2: Problem 75

(a) What is a hydrocarbon? (b) Butane is the alkane with a chain of four carbon atoms. Write a structural formula for this compound and determine its molecular and empirical formulas.

Short Answer

Expert verified
(a) A hydrocarbon is an organic compound consisting of only hydrogen and carbon atoms. They can be classified as alkanes, alkenes, or alkynes based on the types of carbon-carbon bonds present. (b) Butane has a molecular formula of \(C_4H_{10}\) and its structural formula is shown below: H H H H | | | | C-C-C-C | | | | H H H H As the ratio of carbon to hydrogen atoms is already in whole numbers (4:10), the empirical formula for butane is also \(C_4H_{10}\).

Step by step solution

01

Part (a): Definition of Hydrocarbon

A hydrocarbon is an organic compound consisting entirely of hydrogen and carbon atoms. These compounds can be classified into different categories, such as alkanes, alkenes, and alkynes, based on the types of carbon-carbon bonds present in them.
02

Part (b): Butane's Structural Formula

Butane is an alkane, which means it has only single carbon-carbon bonds. Given that it has four carbon atoms in its chain (n=4), we can write its structural formula as follows: Butane: \(C_4H_{10}\) Structural formula: H H H H | | | | C-C-C-C | | | | H H H H
03

Part (b): Butane's Molecular Formula

The molecular formula represents the actual number of atoms of each element in a molecule of the compound. Since butane has four carbon atoms and ten hydrogen atoms, its molecular formula is \(C_4H_{10}\).
04

Part (b): Butane's Empirical Formula

The empirical formula is the simplest whole number ratio of the atoms of each element in a compound. In butane's molecular formula, \(C_4H_{10}\), the ratio of carbon to hydrogen atoms is 4:10 or 2:5 when simplified. However, since empirical formulas require whole numbers, the empirical formula for butane is the same as its molecular formula: \(C_4H_{10}\).

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