Questions: How many Hydrogens are in the molecule with the line structure shown here:

Transcript text: How many Hydrogens are in the molecule with the line structure shown here:

Solution

Solution Steps

Step 1: Identify the Carbon Atoms

Count the number of carbon atoms in the molecule. Each vertex in the line structure represents a carbon atom.

There are 5 carbon atoms in the molecule.

Step 2: Determine the Hydrogen Atoms on Each Carbon

Each carbon atom forms 4 bonds. Subtract the number of bonds already shown (to other carbons or oxygen) to determine the number of hydrogen atoms attached to each carbon.

First carbon (leftmost): 3 hydrogens (1 bond to the second carbon)
Second carbon: 2 hydrogens (2 bonds to carbons)
Third carbon: 2 hydrogens (2 bonds to carbons)
Fourth carbon: 2 hydrogens (2 bonds to carbons)
Fifth carbon (carbonyl carbon): 0 hydrogens (1 double bond to oxygen, 1 bond to fourth carbon)

Step 3: Sum the Hydrogen Atoms

Add the number of hydrogen atoms on each carbon to get the total number of hydrogen atoms in the molecule.