Final answer:
The chemical formula for butane is C4H10, which signifies four carbon and ten hydrogen atoms. Butane is an alkane used as fuel in lighters and other applications. It also has an isomeric form called isobutane.
Step-by-step explanation:
The chemical formula for butane is C4H10. This formula indicates that butane is composed of four carbon atoms (C) and ten hydrogen atoms (H). Butane is an alkane, which is a saturated hydrocarbon with single bonds between carbon atoms. According to the general formula for alkanes, which is CnH2n+2, when n equals 4 for butane, the molecular formula becomes C4H10.
Due to its structure, butane is used in various applications such as a fuel in lighters and as a component in gasoline. Moreover, there are two structural isomers of butane. The first one has all four carbon atoms in a straight chain, while the other isomer, called isobutane, has three carbons in a chain with the fourth carbon atom branching off the middle carbon atom.