What is the name for a four-carbon continuous-chain alkane?

1 Answer
Dec 9, 2015

"Continuous-chain" simply means straight-chained, or open-chained. Same thing. Each carbon is therefore linked to at most two other carbons.

Some common prefixes:

One-carbon chain: Meth-
Two-carbon chain: Eth-
Three-carbon chain: Prop-
Four-carbon chain: But-
Five-carbon chain: Pent-
Six-carbon chain: Hex-
Seven-carbon chain: Hept-
Eight-carbon chain: Oct-
Nine-carbon chain: Non-
Ten-carbon chain: Dec-

So, what do you think? Which alkane is this?