Question detail
What is the molecular formula for the alkene with four carbon atoms?
Try the question, check the answer, then read the explanation to understand the curriculum point.
At a glance
MCQ
Type
practice
Style
Topic
Introduction to organic chemistry
Question
- A. C4H10
- B. C4H8
- C. C4H6
- D. C4H12
Answer
C4H8
Explanation
Alkenes follow the general formula CnH2n. For four carbon atoms (n=4), the molecular formula is C4H2(4) = C4H8. This indicates that alkenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons with at least one double bond.
Common mistake
Incorrect Naming of Organic Compounds
Students often confuse the naming of branched alkanes, leading to incorrect IUPAC names.
To correctly name branched alkanes, identify the longest carbon chain as the parent chain, number the chain to give the substituents the lowest possible numbers, and use prefixes for the substituents. For example, for 2-methylpentane, the longest chain is pentane with a methyl group on the second carbon.
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