Chemistry Reference
In-Depth Information
ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
S
TRUCTURE
e
Methane molecul
Propane molecule
The valence bonds of carbon have fixed directions and are equidistant in
space, pointing from the center to the corners of a tetrahedron forming an
angle of 109
-
CH
-
CH
,
the carbon atoms are not connected in a straight line, but are actually as
shown in the above three-dimensional diagram.
In longer chained hydrocarbons, the carbon atoms have a zig-zag struc-
ture. Also, it is important to note that the atoms are free to rotate about any
single bond.
°
. Thus, in propane, which we usually write as CH
3
2
3
