Question

What is the name of the branched alkane shown below? a. 2-methylhexane b. 2-methylheptane c. 3-methylheptane d. 3-methylhexane

Answer 1

The branched alkane depicted is named 3-methylhexane, following the IUPAC naming rules for branched alkanes by identifying the longest chain and assigning the lowest possible numbers to the substituents. (Option d)

Step-by-step explanation:

The name of the branched alkane depicted in the provided structure is 3-methylhexane. To determine the correct name, one should follow the IUPAC nomenclature rules for branched alkanes:

1. Identify the longest continuous carbon chain as the parent compound.
2. Number the chain such that the substituents have the lowest possible numbers.
3. Name the substituents and place them in alphabetical order, if more than one, before the name of the parent alkane.
4. Use hyphens to separate numbers and commas to separate multiple numbers from each other.

Applying these rules to the molecule in question, we see that the longest chain has six carbon atoms, so 'hexane' is the parent name. A methyl group (CH3) is attached to the third carbon, leading to the name 3-methylhexane.