Questions: Draw an alkane containing one tertiary carbon atom, one secondary carbon atom, and three primary carbon atoms. Show all hydrogen atoms.

Transcript text: Draw an alkane containing one tertiary carbon atom, one secondary carbon atom, and three primary carbon atoms. Show all hydrogen atoms.

Solution

Solution Steps

Step 1: Understand the Definitions

Primary Carbon (1°): A carbon atom bonded to only one other carbon atom.
Secondary Carbon (2°): A carbon atom bonded to two other carbon atoms.
Tertiary Carbon (3°): A carbon atom bonded to three other carbon atoms.

Step 2: Determine the Structure

To satisfy the conditions, we need an alkane with:

1 tertiary carbon
1 secondary carbon
3 primary carbons

A simple structure that meets these criteria is 2-methylbutane (also known as isopentane).

Step 3: Draw the Structure

Tertiary Carbon: Place a carbon atom (C1) and attach three other carbon atoms (C2, C3, C4) to it.
Secondary Carbon: Choose one of the attached carbon atoms (C2) and attach another carbon atom (C5) to it.
Primary Carbons: The remaining carbon atoms (C3, C4, C5) are primary as they are each bonded to only one other carbon atom.

Step 4: Add Hydrogen Atoms

Each carbon atom in an alkane forms four bonds. Add hydrogen atoms to satisfy this:
- Tertiary carbon (C1): Already has three carbon bonds, add one hydrogen.
- Secondary carbon (C2): Already has two carbon bonds, add two hydrogens.
- Primary carbons (C3, C4, C5): Each has one carbon bond, add three hydrogens each.

Final Answer

The structure of the alkane is as follows:

\[ \begin{array}{c} \text{H} \\ | \\ \text{H} - \text{C} - \text{H} \\ | \\ \text{H} - \text{C} - \text{C} - \text{H} \\ | \\ \text{H} - \text{C} - \text{H} \\ | \\ \text{H} - \text{C} - \text{H} \\ | \\ \text{H} \end{array} \]

This structure represents 2-methylbutane, which contains one tertiary carbon, one secondary carbon, and three primary carbons.

\(\boxed{\text{2-methylbutane}}\)

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