In n-butane,n-pentane,n-hexane ,why "n" is used?
2006-08-13 01:50:44 · 4 answers · asked by star123 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
Because the "n" stands for natural or normal if what I remember is right, for example n-butane's structure is C-C-C-C with all other valence electrons attached to hydrogen atoms (I declined to show them because with yahoo it is difficult to show structures without spaces.)
n-pentane would be C-C-C-C-C or more accurately C/C\C/C\C as the covalent carbon bonds are not perfectly straight but are instead angled.
And n-Hexane would be C-C-C-C-C-C.
And what keerthan said about the iso, neo, etc prefixes is no longer proper nomenclature according to the IUPAC nomenclature system, which is the naming system used by almost all if not every chemist. the proper system is using the prefixes methyl-, ethyl-, butyl-, etc.
The method of naming the hydrocarbon or organic molecule is to find the longest single carbon chain and name it according to how many carbon atoms are in the chain, Then you number the carbon atoms so that any additional carbon atoms on the sides of the chain have the lowest possible number. Then you name the side chain according to how many carbon atoms are in that also, for example if the side chain was CH2-CH3 it would be called ethyl. then you write the number of the carbon atom its attached to and then the name of the side chain and then finally the main chain. for example the isomer of butane which is commonly called Isobutane by non-chemically acknowledged people is correctly called 2-methyl-propane and neopentane is actually 2,2-Dimethyl-Propane.
2006-08-13 06:21:14 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
the usage of n mean it is a straight chain n=normal
in n alkane there are no secoundary and teritary carbons
in iso alkane there is a secoundary carbon
in neo alkane there is a teritary carbon
primary means bonded to only one other carbon
secoundary means bonded to two other carbons
teritary means bonded to teritary other carbons
2006-08-13 01:55:46 · answer #2 · answered by keerthan 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am sure it will tell you here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butane
2006-08-13 01:54:49 · answer #3 · answered by Skypilot49 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
how do i know ! gosh i wish i could have discovered it so that i would have answered u better
2006-08-13 01:55:52 · answer #4 · answered by ghizal_s99 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋