Draw a condensed and a skeletal structure for each of the following:

a. 3,4-diethyl-2-methylheptane

b. 2,2,5-trimethylhexane

Condensed structures display atoms but few, if any, bonds.

Skeletal structures display bonds but few, if any, atoms.

In all the given questions, carbon is the central atom moving along the parent chain, which is the chain containing the greatest number of carbon atoms in succession.

We know as per the rules for Lewis structures:

1. Because carbon has 4 valence electrons, it will form 4 bonds
2. Oxygen has 2 lonepairsand 2 unpaired electrons, and so will form 2 bonds.
3. Hydrogen will form 1 bond, as it has 1 valence electron.
4. Nitrogen will form 3 bonds as it has zero formal charge.

According to the octet rule, atoms gain or lose electrons in order to achieve an outer shell electron configuration that is closest to that of a noble gas. The skeletal structures are made keeping this rule in mind.