Different Types of Formulae
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what are the two main ways to refer to an organic compound
• with their name - or formulae
what does a displayed formula show
every atom of every bond separately
what would be the displayed formula for ethane
H H | | H- C - C - H | | H H
how is a structural formula created
by grouping all the atoms joined together by a particular carbon atom
what does a structural formula show
• how the atoms unambiguously are joined together - the bonds between small molecules with a single carbon atom
what would be the structural formula of butane
• CH3-CH2-CH2-CH3 - or just CH3CH2CH2CH3
what is a skeletal formula
a zig-zag line that shows only the bonds between carbon atoms
what does every change in direction and ending of a skeletal formula indicate
• that there is a carbon atom - you can think of it as the line slightly changing course whenever it reaches a carbon atom
what else would be shown on a skeletal formula
atoms other than carbon and hydrogen
what would be the skeletal formula of butane and why
• /\/ • the beginning is the first carbon atom with CH3 • then it turns at the second carbon atom with CH2 • then turns again at the third with CH2 • then reaches the end with another CH3
why cant C3H7Cl be considered a structural formula
• the chlorine atoms would be bonded either in between carbon atoms or on either side of the carbon chain • this is because chlorine can only form one bond but it cant form it with a hydrogen that is already bonded with carbon • and C3H7Cl would wrongly indicate this if it was the structural formula
what would C3H7Cl be correctly called and why
• the molecular formulae • because it only shows the number of atoms in each molecule • not its structure or the order they are bonded in • it can also represent more than one compound
if the molecular formula of a molecule is CH3Cl, could this be used to work out the structural, display and skeletal formulae and why
• yes, because it is very simple • there is only one way in which those atoms could be arranged • so that is in effect also its structural formula
what is the empirical formula
the lowest possible whole number ratio of the atoms in a compound
what is the empirical formula for butane
• its molecular formula is C4H10 - so its empirical is C2H5
what would be the structural and skeletal formulae for chloroethane
• CH3-CH2-Cl • /\ Cl