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7.2: Question 7.2 PASS - interpret chemical structure line drawing

  • Page ID
    452281
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    Exercise 7.2

    How many carbons are in the following drawing? How many hydrogens?

    7.2_question structure.jpg

    Answer

    The structure has five carbon atoms and ten hydrogen atoms.

    See LibreText 7.2 Drawing Chemical Structures 

    Strategy Map
    Step Hint
    1. Identify the carbons in the line drawing for the molecule. 

    In a line structure, carbon atoms are found at the end of each line as well as at each corner.  

     

    2. Add hydrogen atoms to the carbons until each carbon has 4 bonds. 

    This will satisfy the octet rule. 

    3. Count the carbon atoms and the hydrogen atoms in the molecule.    
    Solution

    Structure showing all bonds:

    7.2_answer structure.jpg

    Answer: 

    The full Lewis Structure shows that in this molecule there are five carbon atoms and ten hydrogen atoms.  

     

    Guided Solution

    Download Guided Solution as a pdf

    Guided Solution Hint
    This is a theory problem that requires you to identify all implied carbon and hydrogen atoms in a line structure. Refer to LibreText 7.2 Drawing Chemical Structures 

    Question: How many carbons are in the following drawing? How many hydrogens?

    Q7.2-question.png

     
    What do the lines represent? Where are the implied carbon and hydrogen atoms? Recall that in a line structure, carbon atoms are found at the end of each line as well as at each corner. Hydrogen atoms surround the carbons to satisfy the octet rule.
    Draw the structure of the molecule showing all carbon and hydrogen atoms. Remember to fulfill the octet rule.

    Recall your steps for drawing Lewis Structures (see LibreText section 4.4)

    Complete Solution:

    In a line structure, carbons are at either end of each line as well as in every corner. A double line shows the double bond.

    Start by writing in the carbon atoms and their connectivity based on the line diagram:

    Q7.2-answer_C_backbone.jpg

     

    Then add hydrogen atoms to each C atom until each C has 4 bonds:

    Q7.2-answer_LS.png

    Count the Carbon and Hydrogen atoms shown in the structure. 

    Answer

    In this molecule there are five carbon atoms and ten hydrogen atoms

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Recognize the impact of the double bond in the structure. 

     

    You could also add the atoms to a condensed structure, just ensure the octet rule is satisfied on each carbon.

    Q7.2-answer_LScondensed.png

    Check your work!

    Counting valence electrons, there are 4 for each C and 1 for each H making a total of 30 valence electrons. The Lewis Structure shows 30 valence electrons and satisfies the octet rule. 

    Why does this answer make chemical sense?

    The full structure represents the Lewis Structure for this molecule. There are 5 carbon atoms which matches the line structure given in the question, and 10 hydrogen atoms makes the octet rule satisfied for each carbon.  

    There are many ways to draw molecules. A line structure gives us the ability to quickly create carbon-hydrogen structures. By convention we know that each line represents the carbon-to-carbon bond, and all hydrogen atoms are “hidden.” 

     

     

     

     

    Recall your steps for drawing Lewis Structures (see LibreText section 4.4)

    (question source from page titled 1.12: Drawing Chemical Structures https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Organic_Chemistry/Organic_Chemistry_(Morsch_et_al.)/01%3A_Structure_and_Bonding/1.12%3A_Drawing_Chemical_Structures, shared under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license, authored, remixed, and/or curated by Steven Farmer, Dietmar Kennepohl, Krista Cunningham, Tim Soderberg, William Reusch, & William Reusch)


    7.2: Question 7.2 PASS - interpret chemical structure line drawing is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.