What are the names of the following branched alkane molecules?

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My teacher hasn't explained how to name branched alkanes and now I'm having trouble with this homework. Can someone please help me with this?

1 Answer
May 7, 2017

I will do the first of your problems.......

Explanation:

With all these problems, you should draw the compound as symmetrically as possible, and (i) identify the LONGEST carbon chain:

We have #H_3C-CH_2CH(CH_3)CH_2CH_2CH_2CH_3#, i.e. a seven carbon chain is the longest chain,

number the longest carbon chain:

#H_3stackrel1Cstackrel2CH_2stackrel3CH(CH_3)stackrel4CH_2stackrel5CH_2stackrel6CH_2stackrel7CH_3#.

Note that I COULD have numbered from the other end, the right hand end, but in that case the substituent would have been at #stackrel5C# not #stackrel3C#, and the numbering scheme demands that these substituent numbers be MINIMIZED.

And thus we have a 7-carbon alkyl chain, an alkane, i.e. #"3-methylheptane"#.

Try the other examples according to this scheme and the one in your text, and if in doubt, ask again........