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What is the molecular formula of butane?
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hydrocarbon
Structures assumed by hydrogen (H) and carbon (C) molecules in four common hydrocarbon compounds.
The molecular formula for butane is .12
Butane belongs to the series of paraffinic hydrocarbons known as alkanes, which follow the general molecular formula . Because butane contains four carbon atoms, the formula is calculated as , resulting in .12
There are two isomers that share this molecular formula: n-butane, which features a straight chain of carbon atoms, and isobutane, which has a branched chain.12