Final answer:
The name 'triethylmethane' does not follow IUPAC nomenclature, as methane can't have three substituents. A similarly named compound 'trimethylmethane' is correctly called 2,2-dimethylpropane, which is also known as neopentane, with a central carbon attached to four methyl groups.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student has asked to draw the structure and provide the correct IUPAC name for the compound triethylmethane. However, this name is not correctly constructed according to IUPAC nomenclature rules. In IUPAC nomenclature, each branch (ethyl in this case) off the main chain (methane) should have a number indicating its position. The name 'triethylmethane' implies that we have a methane molecule with three ethyl groups attached to it, but methane has only one carbon and cannot have three substituents.
To provide a structure based on a similarly named compound, we might consider 'trimethylmethane', which is known as 'neopentane'. The correct structure for neopentane would have a central carbon atom with four methyl groups attached, one of which is part of the main chain, rendering the structure to be branched. The correct IUPAC name for this compound would be 2,2-dimethylpropane.
If the student meant to inquire about a compound with a single carbon atom and three ethyl groups attached, such a compound can't exist because a carbon atom can only have a maximum of four bonds. If the student is looking to find the IUPAC name for a compound with a chain of carbon atoms where one carbon atom has three ethyl groups attached, you might consider looking for a molecular structure that fits within the bounds of IUPAC nomenclature and organic chemistry rules.
For clarity and as an example, here is the structure for 2,2-dimethylpropane: