Question

select the correct answer. which structure represents nonane? a.
h
|
h-c-h
|
h
b.
h h
| |
h-c-c-h
| |
h h
c.
h h h h h

h-c-c-c-c-c-h

h h h h h
d.
h h h h h h h h h

h-c-c-c-c-c-c-c-c-c-h

h h h h h h h h h

Explanation:

Nonane is an alkane with the molecular formula \( C_9H_{20} \), meaning it has 9 carbon atoms in a straight chain (since it's a normal alkane, non - branched for the basic structure representation here). Let's analyze each option:

• Option A: This structure has 1 carbon atom (methane - \( CH_4 \)), so it's not nonane.
• Option B: This structure has 2 carbon atoms (ethane - \( C_2H_6 \)), so it's not nonane.
• Option C: This structure has 5 carbon atoms (pentane - \( C_5H_{12} \)), so it's not nonane.
• Option D: This structure has 9 carbon atoms. Each carbon is bonded to enough hydrogens to satisfy the tetravalency of carbon (in a straight - chain alkane, the general formula is \( C_nH_{2n + 2} \), for \( n=9 \), \( H = 2\times9+ 2=20 \), and the structure shows 9 carbon atoms with appropriate hydrogen bonding), so this represents nonane.

Answer:

D. \(

$$\begin{array}{c} \ce{H} & \ce{H} & \ce{H} & \ce{H} & \ce{H} & \ce{H} & \ce{H} & \ce{H} & \ce{H}\\ \vert & \vert & \vert & \vert & \vert & \vert & \vert & \vert & \vert\\ \ce{H - C - C - C - C - C - C - C - C - C - H}\\ \vert & \vert & \vert & \vert & \vert & \vert & \vert & \vert & \vert\\ \ce{H} & \ce{H} & \ce{H} & \ce{H} & \ce{H} & \ce{H} & \ce{H} & \ce{H} & \ce{H} \end{array}$$

\)