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Chapter 2: Problem 81

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

Short Answer

Expert verified
(a) A hydrocarbon is a compound consisting exclusively of carbon (C) and hydrogen (H) atoms, classified into aliphatic and aromatic categories. (b) The structural formula for pentane is CH3-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH3. Its molecular formula is C5H12, and its empirical formula is also C5H12 as it is already in its simplest ratio.

Step by step solution

01

(a) Define Hydrocarbon

A hydrocarbon is a compound that consists exclusively of carbon (C) and hydrogen (H) atoms. Hydrocarbons can be classified into two main categories: aliphatic and aromatic. Aliphatic hydrocarbons are further divided into alkanes, alkenes, and alkynes depending on the type of bond between carbon atoms. Aromatic hydrocarbons, also known as arenes, contain a ring of carbon atoms with alternating single and double bonds.
02

(b) Structural Formula of Pentane

Pentane is an alkane because it consists only of single covalent bonds between carbon atoms. As an alkane with five carbon atoms, its structural formula is as follows: CH3-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH3
03

(b) Molecular Formula of Pentane

The molecular formula represents the exact number of atoms of each element in a molecule. To determine the molecular formula of pentane, we can count the number of carbon (C) and hydrogen (H) atoms in its structural formula. There are 5 carbon (C) atoms and 12 hydrogen (H) atoms, so the molecular formula of pentane is C5H12.
04

(b) Empirical Formula of Pentane

The empirical formula represents the simplest whole-number ratio of the elements in a compound. Since the molecular formula of pentane is already in its simplest ratio (C5H12), the empirical formula is the same: Empirical formula of pentane: C5H12

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Give the names and charges of the cation and anion in each of the following compounds: (a) CuS, (b) \(\mathrm{Ag}_{2} \mathrm{SO}_{4}\) (c) \(\mathrm{Al}\left(\mathrm{ClO}_{3}\right)_{3},(\mathbf{d}) \mathrm{Co}(\mathrm{OH})_{2},(\mathbf{e}) \mathrm{PbCO}_{3}\)

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Write the empirical formula corresponding to each of the following molecular formulas: (a) \(\mathrm{Al}_{2} \mathrm{Br}_{6},(\mathbf{b}) \mathrm{C}_{8} \mathrm{H}_{10}\) (c) \(\mathrm{C}_{4} \mathrm{H}_{8} \mathrm{O}_{2},(\mathbf{d}) \mathrm{P}_{4} \mathrm{O}_{10},(\mathbf{e}) \mathrm{C}_{6} \mathrm{H}_{4} \mathrm{Cl}_{2},(\mathbf{f}) \mathrm{B}_{3} \mathrm{N}_{3} \mathrm{H}_{6} .\)

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A U.S. 1 -cent coin (a penny) has a diameter of 19 \(\mathrm{mm}\) and a thickness of 1.5 \(\mathrm{mm}\) . Assume the coin is made of pure copper, whose density and approximate market price are 8.9 \(\mathrm{g} / \mathrm{cm}^{3}\) and \(\$ 2.40\) per pound, respectively. Calculate the value of the copper in the coin, assuming its thickness is uniform.
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