STRUCTURE AND NOMENCLATURE OF ALKANES
Isomerism is very important a phenomenon in Organic Chemistry.
With just a few carbons one can form a large number of different compounds.
An excellent exercise is the drawing of the 19 possible isomers of the formula C8H18. Do you dare?
Please, do not forget considering steroisomerism!!!
In the Organic Chemistry language it is usual to distinguish among different positions in a carbon chain:
A carbon bonded to just another carbon is called PRIMARY.
A carbon bonded to two other carbons is called SECONDARY.
To three, TERTIARY.
And finally to four, QUATERNARY.
Keep on discovering stereocenters!!!
Please, be aware that one CANNOT be branching chains without limit:
STERIC HINDRANCE is the consequence of the atoms having volumen and occupying room.
If we substitute H by methyl groups, the situation is reached where there is no more available room and the molecule is impossible.
