branched-chain hydrocarbon
Quick Summary
A branched-chain hydrocarbon is a type of alkane where the carbon atoms are not arranged in a single, continuous chain. Instead, some carbon atoms form branches off the main chain. For example, while n-butane has all four carbon atoms in a line, isobutane has a main chain of three carbons with one carbon branching off the middle one.12
These different arrangements, called constitutional isomers, have the same molecular formula but different structures. This difference in structure leads to variations in their physical properties, such as boiling points. n-butane boils at -0.5 °C, while isobutane boils at a lower temperature of -11.7 °C. The number of possible branched-chain isomers increases significantly as the number of carbon atoms in the hydrocarbon grows.12
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