Question

Question: How many rings and π bonds does a compound with molecular formula C₁₀H₁₄ possess? List all possibilities.

Short answer

Answer

The DOU of the compound is 4. It contains four π bonds or one ring and three π bonds or two rings and two π bonds.

Step-by-step solution

Degree of unsaturation

The degree of unsaturation of the compound depicts the number of rings and pi bonds in it. We can use it to draw the structure of the compound easily.

Assigning E or Z configuration

The degree of unsaturation is calculated by the formula

$\mathrm{DOU}=\frac{2\mathrm{C}+2+\mathrm{N}-\mathrm{X}-\mathrm{H}}{2}$

Here,

• C represents carbon
• N represents nitrogen
• X represents halogen
• H represents hydrogen

The given compound is C₁₀H₁₄ . Substitute the values in the above formula.

$$\begin{gathered} \mathrm{DOU}=\frac{2\left(10\right)+2-14}{2} \\ =\frac{8}{2} \\ =4. \end{gathered}$$

Thus, the compound contains four π bonds or one ring and three π bonds or two rings and two π bonds.