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Chapter 2: Problem 45

The structural formulas of the compounds \(n\) -butane and isobutane are shown below.(a) Determine the molecular formula of each.(b) Determine the empirical formula of each. (c) Which formulas - empirical, molecular, or structural- allow you determine these are different compounds?

Short Answer

Expert verified
The molecular formula for both n-butane and isobutane is \(C_4H_{10}\), and their empirical formula is \(C_2H_5\). However, the structural formulas are different: \(CH_3CH_2CH_2CH_3\) for n-butane and \((CH_3)_3CH\) for isobutane, revealing that they are different compounds.

Step by step solution

01

Determine the molecular formula of each

Here, we need to count the number of carbon (C) and hydrogen (H) atoms in the structural formulas of n-butane and isobutane. For n-butane: The structural formula is CH3CH2CH2CH3, so there are 4 carbon atoms and 10 hydrogen atoms. Therefore, the molecular formula for n-butane is C4H10. For isobutane: The structural formula is (CH3)3CH, so there are again 4 carbon atoms and 10 hydrogen atoms. Thus, the molecular formula for isobutane is also C4H10.
02

Determine the empirical formula of each

The empirical formula is the simplest whole number ratio of elements in a compound. For both n-butane and isobutane, the molecular formula is C4H10. The empirical formula can be found by dividing by their greatest common factors. In this case, the greatest common factor is 2 (both numbers can be divided by 2). When we divide C4H10 by the greatest common factor: C4 ÷ 2 = C2 H10 ÷ 2 = H5 So, the empirical formula for both n-butane and isobutane is C2H5.
03

Identify which formula shows the compounds are different

It's important to notice that molecular and empirical formulas are the same for both n-butane and isobutane (C4H10 and C2H5, respectively). However, their structural formulas are different: n-butane has a structural formula of CH3CH2CH2CH3. Isobutane has a structural formula of (CH3)3CH. The structural formula for each compound reveals that they are different compounds, as it shows the unique arrangements and bonding patterns of the atoms within each molecule. Therefore, the structural formula allows us to determine that n-butane and isobutane are different compounds.

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