Name ______________________________________ Period _____ Date __________________

Bonding & Molecular Structure

C.3.6 Use structural formulas of hydrocarbons to illustrate carbon's ability to form single
and multiple bonds within a molecule.
Directions for BLOOMS – Higher Order – ANALYZING:
Students will integrate the given knowledge rules of hydrocarbon nomenclature & general structure
methods to chart the appropriate Molecular Formulas & Full Structural Formulas in the tables
provided.

1) Alkanes contain only single carbon bonds (C-C) and end in “-ane”.
2) Alkenes contain double carbon bonds (C=C) and end in “-ene”.
3) Alkynes contain triple carbon bonds ( ) and end in “-yne”.
4) Linear carbons are in a straight line.
5) Cyclic carbons “cyclo-” are straight lines connected in a closed shape.

Note: Hydrogens connect to every carbon to fill it up to have 4 bonds total. No more, no less.
“Cyclo-” in front of the prefix indicates to draw a cyclic structure.

Rules for High School Hydrocarbon Nomenclature:

1) Count the carbons to identify the prefix.
2) Identify single, double, or triple bonded carbons for the suffix.
3) Prefix + suffix = Name

Rules for Molecular Formula:

C number of carbons H number of carbons

Number of
Prefix
Stepwise Example to Conclude a Linear Structure & Carbons
Formula: 1 Meth-
Propane à prop (3 carbons) -ane (single bonds) 2 Eth-
3 Prop-
1) Molecular Formula à C3H?
2) Must draw to find #H’s. 4 But-
3) Structural Formula: (final answer 1)
5 Pent-
6 Hex-
7 Hept-
4) 8 Hydrogens 8 Oct-
5) Molecular formula à C3H8 (final answer 2)
9 Non-
10 Dec-

Chem-is-try 50
Stepwise Example to Conclude a Cyclic 3) Cyclic Structural Formula: (final
Structure & Formula: answer 1)

Cyclopropane à
cyclo- (in a closed structure)
-prop- (3 carbons)
-ane (single bonds) 4) 6 Hydrogens

1) Molecular Formula à C3H? 5) Molecular formula à C3H6 (final

answer 2)
2) Must draw to find #H’s.

Hydrocarbon Name Structural

Molecular Formula
“-ane”, “-ene”, & “yne” Formula
(Answer 2)
(Carbon atoms + Bond Type) (Answer 1)

Methane

Ethene C2 H6

Propyne C3 H4

Cyclobutane

Cyclopentene

Cyclohexyne

Chem-is-try 51
 Heptane

Octene

Nonyne

Cyclodecane

Chem-is-try 52