What is the name of the compound CH₃CH₂CH₂CH₃?

Question

What is the name of the compound CH₃CH₂CH₂CH₃??  
A. Cyclobutane  
B. Butane  
C. Butene  
D. Butyne

Accepted Answer

Correct Answer: (B)Butane. 
Rationale: The compound CH₃CH₂CH₂CH₃ is called butane.This chemical formula represents a straight-chain hydrocarbon composed of four carbon atoms connected by single bonds and surrounded by hydrogen atoms. When the carbon atoms are linked only by single covalent bonds and the molecule is fully saturated with hydrogen, the compound belongs to the alkane family. Alkanes follow the general molecular formula CₙH₂ₙ₊₂, and with four carbon atoms, the expected formula is C₄H₁₀, which matches CH₃CH₂CH₂CH₃.A. CyclobutaneCyclobutane is a cyclic alkane, meaning its four carbon atoms are connected in a ring rather than in a straight chain. Because it forms a ring, cyclobutane has the molecular formula C₄H₈, not C₄H₁₀. The given structure is clearly linear, not cyclic, so it cannot be cyclobutane.B. ButaneButane is the straight-chain alkane with four carbon atoms. Its structure can be written as CH₃CH₂CH₂CH₃, and it follows the alkane naming rules: the prefix “but-” indicates four carbon atoms, and the suffix “-ane” indicates that all carbon–carbon bonds are single bonds. This makes butane a saturated hydrocarbon.C. ButeneButene is an alkene, which means it contains at least one carbon–carbon double bond. Alkenes follow the general formula CₙH₂ₙ, so butene has the formula C₄H₈. Since CH₃CH₂CH₂CH₃ contains only single bonds and has ten hydrogen atoms, it cannot be an alkene.D. ButyneButyne is an alkyne, which contains a carbon–carbon triple bond. Alkynes follow the general formula CₙH₂ₙ₋₂, so butyne has the formula C₄H₆. The given compound does not contain a triple bond and has far more hydrogen atoms than an alkyne would.ConclusionThe formula CH₃CH₂CH₂CH₃ represents a straight-chain, saturated hydrocarbon with four carbon atoms and only single bonds. Based on alkane naming rules and molecular structure, this compound is correctly identified as butane.

What is the name of the compound CH₃CH₂CH₂CH₃?

A
Cyclobutane

B
Butane

C
Butene

D
Butyne

The compound CH₃CH₂CH₂CH₃ is called butane.

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What is the name of the compound CH₃CH₂CH₂CH₃?

A Cyclobutane B Butane C Butene D Butyne

The compound CH₃CH₂CH₂CH₃ is called butane.

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Related Questions

A
Cyclobutane

B
Butane

C
Butene

D
Butyne