Carbon Chains
Part of the Structure and Bonding section of Coddy's Chemistry journey. Lesson 39 of 49.
Carbon has 4 valence electrons and makes four bonds. Carbon atoms bond to each other, forming chains.
Propane, C3H8: every carbon makes four bonds
Alkanes: only C and H, only single bonds. Methane CH₄, ethane C₂H₆, propane C₃H₈, butane C₄H₁₀: the formula is CₙH₂ₙ₊₂.
Challenge
Propane, C₃H₈, is the gas in camping stoves. Its three carbon atoms form a chain. Draw every bond of its full structural formula.
Try it yourself
Work it out on the board
Test yourselfThis lesson includes a short quiz. Start the lesson to answer it and track your progress.
All lessons in Structure and Bonding
1Ionic Bonding
Why Atoms BondForming IonsThe Ionic BondIonic FormulasPolyatomic IonsIonic LatticesRecap - Salt Factory4Polarity
Electronegativity and BondsPolar and Non-polar BondsIonic or CovalentPolar MoleculesWhen Dipoles CancelRecap - Dipole Hunt7Functional Groups
Carbon ChainsStructural FormulasAlcoholsCarboxylic AcidsEsters and EthersAldehydes, Ketones, AminesRecap - Group Finder2Covalent Bonds
Sharing ElectronsCounting Valence ElectronsDrawing Lewis StructuresDouble and Triple BondsLone PairsFormal ChargeLewis Structures of IonsRecap - Molecule Builder