Write the molecular formula of each alkane. (a) CCCC(C(C)C)C(C)C (b) CC(C)(C)C(C)(C)C (c) CCCC(CCC)C(C)(C)C

In order to determine the molecular formula, first count the number of carbon and hydrogen atoms in the given SMILES notation for each alkane. Remember that carbon atoms are represented by the letter C and hydrogen atoms are implied, with each carbon making 4 bonds. (a) CCCC(C(C)C)C(C)C C: 8 carbon atoms (just count the Cs) H: (4 bonds per carbon atom - existing bonds)*number of carbon atoms 16 hydrogen atoms (2 + 2+ 2+1+4+1+2+2) (b) CC(C)(C)C(C)(C)C C: 6 carbon atoms (just count the Cs) H: (4 bonds per carbon atom - existing bonds)*number of carbon atoms 12 hydrogen atoms (2+3+3+1+3+3) (c) CCCC(CCC)C(C)(C)C C: 10 carbon atoms (just count the Cs) H: (4 bonds per carbon atom - existing bonds)*number of carbon atoms 20 hydrogen atoms (2+2+2+1+2+1+1+3+3+3)

Write the molecular formula for each alkane using the number of carbon and hydrogen atoms found in step 1. (a) C8H16 (b) C6H12 (c) C10H20