Q. 1-1-29E - Organic Chemistry (Mcmurry)

Question

Convert the following line-bond structures into molecular formulas

(a)

                                    Aspirin (acetyl salicylic acid)

(b) 

                                              Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)

(c)

                                                                   Nicotine

(d) 

                                                             Glucose

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

(a) The molecular formula for aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) is.

(b) The molecular formula for vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is.

(c) The molecular formula for nicotine is.

(d) The molecular formula for glucose is  

Line bond structure

The molecular structure is represented in such a way that the covalent bond is depicted with one line for each level of bond order.

Conversion of line bond structure to the molecular formula

To convert a line bond structure into a molecular formula, first, we need to count the number of each type of atom in the structure. Then write the element symbol (C for carbon, H for hydrogen, etc) followed by the number of atoms of its kind in a subscript. Remove the subscript for elements that have only one atom in the structure. 

Representation of molecular formula

(a) Aspirin (acetyl salicylic acid) has 9 carbon atoms, 8 hydrogen atoms, and 4 oxygen atoms. Thus, its molecular formula is written as:  ${\mathrm{C}}_9{\mathrm{H}}_8{\mathrm{O}}_4$

                                       Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid)

(b) Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) has 6 carbon atoms, 8 hydrogen atoms, and 6 oxygen atoms respectively. Its molecular formula is written as  ${\mathrm{C}}_6{\mathrm{H}}_8{\mathrm{O}}_6$

                                                     Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)

(c) Nicotine has 10 carbon atoms, 14 hydrogen atoms, and 2 nitrogen atoms. Its molecular formula is written as:  ${\mathrm{C}}_{10}{\mathrm{H}}_{14}{\mathrm{N}}_2$

                                                          Nicotine

(d) 

 

Glucose has 6 carbon atoms, 12 hydrogen atoms, and 6 oxygen atoms. Its molecular formula is   written as:  ${\mathrm{C}}_6{\mathrm{H}}_{12}{\mathrm{N}}_6$

                                                         Glucose