Question

Name and draw structural formulas for all cycloalkanes with molecular formula \(\mathrm{C}_{5} \mathrm{H}_{10^{-}}\) Include cis and trans isomers as well as constitutional isomers.

Short answer

Answer: The only possible cycloalkane structure for the molecular formula \(\mathrm{C}_5 \mathrm{H}_{10}\) is cyclopentane. It does not exhibit cis or trans isomerism due to its singular ring structure and absence of double bonds.

Step-by-step solution

Identify possible structures

First, we need to identify the possible structures of cycloalkanes with the molecular formula \(\mathrm{C}_5 \mathrm{H}_{10}\). Since there are 5 carbon atoms, the cycloalkanes can be in the form of a 5-membered ring, also known as cyclopentane.

Draw the structure of cyclopentane

Draw a pentagon (5-sided polygon) and add a single bond between each pair of adjacent vertices. Put a carbon atom at each vertex and add hydrogens to each carbon atom so that each carbon has a total of four bonds. In this case, \[ \begin{array}{c} \text {cyclopentane} \\ \includegraphics[scale = .3]{C5H10_cropped.jpg} \\ \end{array} \] Keep in mind that there is no cis or trans isomerism in cyclopentane due to its singular ring structure and no double bonds. Therefore, the only isomer of \(\mathrm{C}_5 \mathrm{H}_{10}\) as a cycloalkane is cyclopentane.