In chemistry, there is a class of compounds called alkanes. they have the general formula, where c stands for a carbon atom and h stands for a hydrogen atom. the subscript x stands for the number of carbon atoms, and the subscript stands for the number of hydrogen atoms in one molecule of the compound. carbon atoms hydrogen atoms alkane formula 1 4 2 6 3 8 suppose an alkane had 30 hydrogen atoms. how many carbon atoms would it have?

a. 15 atoms

c. 14 atoms

b. 62 atoms

d. 28 atoms

Question

Chemistry

Lena Nichols

20 April, 16:38

In chemistry, there is a class of compounds called alkanes. they have the general formula, where c stands for a carbon atom and h stands for a hydrogen atom. the subscript x stands for the number of carbon atoms, and the subscript stands for the number of hydrogen atoms in one molecule of the compound. carbon atoms hydrogen atoms alkane formula 1 4 2 6 3 8 suppose an alkane had 30 hydrogen atoms. how many carbon atoms would it have?

a. 15 atoms

c. 14 atoms

b. 62 atoms

d. 28 atoms

+2

Answers (2)

Know the Answer?

Sampson · Answer 1

C. 14 atoms

The question has a typo, but the term Alkane is that for an acyclic saturated hydrocarbon which consists of a chain of carbon atoms all with a single bond to each other and the rest of the available bonds occupied with a hydrogen atom. Some examples are methane CH4, ethane C2H6, propane C3H8. The general formula is for N carbon atoms there's 2N+2 hydrogen atoms.

Setup an equation and solve for N

2N + 2 = 30

2N = 28

N = 14

So the answer is "C. 14 atoms"

Zion · Answer 2

Alkanes are homologous saturated hydrocarbon with a formula CnH (2n+2),

they are saturated hydrocarbon because they lack double or tripple bond between carbon atoms and each carbon has a maximum number of bonds (4 bonds). Therefore, a hydrocarbon with 30 hydrogen will have;

2n + 2 = 30

2n = 28

n = 14

thus, 14 carbon atoms.