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Topic: Question about Molecular formula  (Read 2823 times)

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Offline brett4th

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Question about Molecular formula
« on: February 28, 2009, 12:00:39 PM »
Question about Molecular formula C7H8 (C6H5CH3).  Why is 1 of the C and 3 of the H separated within the parenthesis?

Offline ARGOS++

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Re: Question about Molecular formula
« Reply #1 on: February 28, 2009, 12:28:48 PM »

Dear brett4th;

The C6H5-  in the parenthesis is indicating a benzene-ring minus one -H and the –CH3 is indicating a methyl substituent, so the whole thing is Methyl-benzene or Toluene (check on Wiki!).

Good Luck!
                    ARGOS++

Offline Aqueous Maqueous

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Re: Question about Molecular formula
« Reply #2 on: February 28, 2009, 09:49:22 PM »
It's separated to help show the order of the molecules. We know from the H5 that there are 5 hydrogens that are bonded to the 6 carbons. Then at the last carbon, there are 3 hydrogens bonded to that.

Also the odd number of hydrogens (5) and the even number of carbons (6) hint that there is a carbon ring.


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