Names and Formulas of Alkanes Extended Topic

In methane, CH4, the covalent bonds from carbon to hydrogen are directed to the comers of a tetrahedron. This gives the lowest amount of repulsion between the H atoms. This three-dimensional structure of methane can be illustrated as a ball-and-stick model. The expanded structural formula is a two-dimensional representation in which the bonds from carbon to each hydrogen atom are shown. 

Two-dimensional and three-dimensional representations of methane, CH4 (a) electron-dot formula, (b) expanded structural formula, and (c) ball-and-stick model. 

In ethane, C2H5, two carbon atoms are attached and each carbon atom is also bonded to three hydrogen atoms. 

LEARNING GOAL Identify the properties characteristic of organic and inorganic compounds. 

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Organic Compounds and Names and Formulas of Alkanes are labeled as Extended Topics. 

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