Final answer:
For the molecular formula C₆H₁₀, there is only one distinct terminal alkyne possible, since any terminal alkyne at one end of a six-carbon chain will be identical to one at the other end due to molecular symmetry.
Step-by-step explanation:
When considering the molecular formula C₆H₁₀, and the notion of distinct terminal alkynes, we are looking for the number of unique alkyne compounds that have a triple bond at the end of the carbon chain. Alkynes are hydrocarbons with at least one carbon-carbon triple bond. To be terminal, the triple bond should be at the end of the carbon chain, meaning it is connected to a carbon that has at least one hydrogen attached, designated as C≡CH.
A systematic approach to determine the number of distinct terminal alkynes requires an examination of the different ways that the carbon atoms can be connected while maintaining a terminal alkyne structure. For a carbon chain with six carbon atoms (C₆H₁₀), the triple bond can be positioned starting at carbon 1 (the terminal carbon), which results in hex-1-yne. However, since we are considering only terminal alkynes, and the molecule is symmetrical, positioning the triple bond at carbon 6 would result in the same molecule. Therefore, there is essentially only one distinct terminal alkyne for a six-carbon chain with a molecular formula of C₆H₁₀.