Question

• An alkane with the formula C5H12 undergoes chlorination to give only one product with the formula C5H11Cl. What is the structure of this alkane? •​

Answer 1

When an alkane undergoes a halogenation reaction, the majority of the products will add the halogen to the most substituted and most stable carbon. In this case, this would likely be the third carbon (middle).

Key:

Leftmost molecule = C₅H₁₂

Rightmost molecule = C₅H₁₁Cl

*Not pictured = HCl (another product)