What do lines represent in a structural formula?

1 Answer
anor277
Jul 4, 2017

The lines represent #C-H# and #C-C#, and #C-"heteroatom"# bonds....

Explanation:

And usually, the #C-H# bonds are omitted for brevity, and the molecule is mostly REPRESENTED by a zig-zag line.....Heteroatoms, nitrogen, hydrogen, halogen, are substituted along the line if the formula so requires.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentane

The line drawing reasonably unambiguously represents #"H"_3"CCH"_2"CH"_2"CH"_2"CH"_3#, i.e. #"n-pentane"#.

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