Draw the structure of propane in skeleton mode or as bond-line structure. (Do not draw the hydrogen atoms.) Select Draw Rings More Erase C H
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The image provided correctly shows the skeletal structure of propane.
Explanation:
Propane is a simple alkane, which is a type of hydrocarbon. The name “propane” provides two key pieces of information about its structure. The prefix “prop-“ indicates that the molecule contains a chain of three carbon atoms. The suffix “-ane” signifies that it is an alkane, meaning all the bonds between the carbon atoms are single bonds. The chemical formula for propane is C₃H₈.
The question asks for the skeletal structure, also known as a bond-line structure. This is a simplified way to represent organic molecules. The rules for drawing skeletal structures are:
- Carbon Atoms: Carbon atoms are not explicitly written with the letter ‘C’. Instead, they are represented by the vertices (corners or points where lines meet) and the termini (ends) of the line segments.
- Carbon-Carbon Bonds: Each line segment represents a covalent bond between two carbon atoms. A single line is a single bond, a double line is a double bond, and a triple line is a triple bond.
- Hydrogen Atoms: Hydrogen atoms bonded to carbon atoms are not drawn. It is assumed that each carbon atom is bonded to enough hydrogen atoms to have a total of four bonds (to satisfy the octet rule).
To draw propane using these rules, we need to represent a three-carbon chain with single bonds. This is achieved by drawing two connected line segments in a zigzag pattern.
- The end of the first line represents the first carbon atom (a CH₃ group).
- The vertex where the two lines connect represents the second, central carbon atom (a CH₂ group).
- The end of the second line represents the third carbon atom (another CH₃ group).
The structure in the image is a simple angle or an inverted “V,” which consists of two connected lines. This drawing correctly depicts a three-carbon chain linked by single bonds, which is the accurate skeletal representation of propane.thumb_upthumb_down
