Final answer:
To draw 2,6-dimethyl-4-(2-methylpropyl)decane, start with a 10-carbon decane chain and add methyl groups at the 2nd and 6th positions and a 2-methylpropyl group at the 4th position.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question requires us to draw the structural formula for 2,6-dimethyl-4-(2-methylpropyl)decane. First, let's start by drawing the decane backbone, which contains 10 carbon atoms. We will then add the substituent groups to the main chain at the appropriate carbon atoms. At the 2nd and 6th positions, we will add methyl groups (CH3). At the 4th position, we will add the 2-methylpropyl group, which is a 4-carbon chain with a methyl group attached to the second carbon. The structural formula is depicted as follows, with each vertex representing a carbon atom and the lines representing bonds. Hydrogens have been omitted for clarity, assuming they will fill up to satisfy the tetravalency of carbon:
C-C(C)-C(C)(C-C(C)-C)-C-C-C-C-C-C
Here, the parenthetical numbers indicate the carbon atoms' positions in the main chain where the substituents are attached. 'C' represents a carbon atom, and 'C-C' without a parenthesis between them indicates a direct bond between two carbon atoms in the primary chain.