Question

Cyclic alkanes can also have substituent groups on the ring. Draw the bond- line structure of all cyclic alkanes with only five \(\mathrm{C}\) atoms.

Short answer

Cyclopentane is the cyclic alkane with five carbon atoms, drawn as a simple pentagon.

Step-by-step solution

Understand the Cyclic Alkane

Cyclic alkanes are hydrocarbons with carbon atoms arranged in a ring, and all the bonds are single bonds. A cyclic alkane with five carbon atoms is cyclopentane.

Draw the Cyclopentane Ring

Cyclopentane consists of a single ring containing five carbon atoms. Start by drawing a simple pentagon to represent the five-membered ring of carbon atoms.

Identify Hydrogen Atoms

In a bond-line structure, carbon atoms typically make four bonds. Since we only show carbon-carbon bonds, each carbon in cyclopentane is bonded to two hydrogen atoms to complete its tetravalence.

Key concepts

Cyclopentane

Cyclopentane is a type of cyclic alkane. It consists of five carbon atoms arranged in a pentagonal ring. This simple yet important molecule is part of the broader family of hydrocarbons in organic chemistry. Cyclic alkanes like cyclopentane have only single bonds, making them saturated hydrocarbons. The ring structure introduces unique properties compared to linear alkanes, such as altered boiling points and molecular stability.

Cyclopentane is a colorless liquid at room temperature and finds use in a variety of applications, from industrial solvents to blowing agents in foam production. Understanding cyclopentane lays the groundwork for exploring more complex cyclic compounds.

Substituent Groups

In organic chemistry, substituent groups are atoms or groups of atoms attached to the main skeletal structure of a molecule. These groups can alter the chemical properties and reactivity of the molecule. For cyclic alkanes like cyclopentane, substituents can attach to any carbon atom in the ring.

The presence and position of substituents can significantly impact the molecule's behavior and determine its functionality. Positioning is described using numbers or prefixes such as "ortho," "meta," and "para" for rings with only two substituents. By learning about substituents, you can predict and manipulate the behavior of numerous organic compounds.

Bond-Line Structures

Bond-line structures, or skeletal formulas, are a simplified way to represent molecular structures. In these diagrams, only carbon-carbon bonds and functional groups are explicitly shown, making it easier to visualize complex structures.

In a bond-line drawing, each vertex represents a carbon atom, and the lines represent bonds. The hydrogen atoms are usually not shown, as it's understood they complete the tetravalence of carbon. This method is particularly useful for drawing cyclic compounds like cyclopentane, where you can portray a clear and concise representation of the ring's shape.

Mastery of bond-line structures helps in quickly communicating and interpreting complex chemical structures.

Hydrocarbons

At the heart of organic chemistry lie hydrocarbons, which are molecules made up entirely of hydrogen and carbon. They are classified further into categories based on structures, like alkanes, alkenes, and alkynes.

Alkanes are the simplest of hydrocarbons, containing only single bonds, and are known as saturated hydrocarbons. Cyclopentane falls into this category but has a unique closed-ring structure, which affects its properties compared to normal straight-chain alkanes.

Recognizing hydrocarbons and their classifications allows chemists to predict chemical reactions, properties, and uses. A solid understanding of hydrocarbons forms the foundation for diving deeper into organic chemistry and its wide applications.