What is the molecular formula for 2,3-dimethylpentane?

What is the molecular formula for 2,3-dimethylpentane?

Step 1: Identify the main chain of the molecule. 'Pentane' indicates a chain of 5 carbon atoms.
Step 2: Count the carbon atoms in the main chain. Pentane has 5 carbons (C5).
Step 3: Identify the substituents. '2,3-dimethyl' means there are two methyl groups (CH3) attached to the 2nd and 3rd carbon of the pentane chain.
Step 4: Add the carbon atoms from the methyl groups. Each methyl group has 1 carbon, so 2 methyl groups add 2 more carbons (C2).
Step 5: Combine the carbon counts. 5 (from pentane) + 2 (from methyl groups) = 7 carbons (C7).
Step 6: Calculate the total number of hydrogen atoms. Each carbon in a saturated hydrocarbon typically bonds with enough hydrogens to make 4 bonds. For 7 carbons, the formula is CnH(2n+2). Here, n = 7, so H = 2(7) + 2 = 16 hydrogens (H16).
Step 7: Write the molecular formula. Combine the total carbons and hydrogens to get C7H16.

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