What is a branched hydrocarbon?

Answer 1

Branched hydrocarbons are structural isomers, this means that they have the same chemical formulas but are in a different configuration.

For example take butane with its formula C4H10 this also be written as CH3CH2CH2CH3 this is called the structural formula. You could use this to draw out and you would have the structure of butane. And this configuration is simply called a straight chain due to the way it looks.

However with a branched chain it doesn't look like a straight chain, it would look like a straight chain with a 'branch' off it. This is because a carbon atom has moved its location. But the moving of the carbon does not effect how many carbons there are overall. So to draw a branched chain you would use this structural formula;H

CH3CH(CH3)2 - the brackets mean that there are two lots of them coming of the CH group. This is called iso-butane or 2-methlypropane.

This is a branched chain, and if you draw the butane out then drawn iso-butane next to it you will see where they get the names from.

As well as the structure being different, they have different properties such as boiling point, this is because branched chains do not 'pack' as tightly together as straight chains, think about a pack of cards for the straight chains - they lie flush together with not real space this is what is meant by packing. However with the branch chains they don't pack as neatly together so imagine some of the cards are folded and prop the others up so they don't fit snugly.

Because of this they don't have as much attraction to each other through the Van der Waals, and have a lower attraction to each other. This means that when heat is applied they can't hold together as well thus leading to a lower boiling point.

Answer 2

Generally branched chain hydrocarbons is where substituent groups (e.g. -methyl, CH3 or -hydroxy, OH) are attached onto the main chain of hydrocarbons. Branching is often used to shorten the chain length of hydrocarbons as shorter chain are more valuable. Branching is a type of reforming or isomerism of hydrocarbons.

For example of the branched hydrocarbon of butane changes from:

H H H H H CH3 H

H - C - C - C - C - H to 2-methylpropane H - C - C - C - H

H H H H H H H

Very simply branching just changes the shape of a hydrocarbon

Answer 3

A branched hydrocarbon is a type of hydrocarbon molecule in which the carbon chain has branches or side chains coming off of the main carbon backbone. These branches give the molecule a more complex structure compared to a straight-chain hydrocarbon. Branching affects the physical properties and reactivity of the molecule.

Answer 4

A branched chain hydrocarbon is where the carbon atoms of a hydrocarbon branch off from each other. ie- not a straight chain hydrocarbon