How many isomers can be formed from C7H16?

[nesyamahraf]

why can't we name it 3-ethyl, butane?

c – c – c – c – c
|
c
|
c

 

[Borek]

Because it wouldn't make sense. If anything, 1-ethyl-butane sounds better. Unless you are asking about different molecule which has been garbled by ASCII - try to post it as http://www.epa.gov/med/Prods_Pubs/smiles.htm.

It is heptane. Look for the longest straight chain.

The idea is to make name unique, your approach will give many names to the same molecule - like 1-methylhexane, 1-ethylpentane, 1-propylbutane, ore even 1,5-dimethylpentane.

 

[nesyamahraf]

sorry, but i typed the ethyl was in the third position. i just don't know why it became like that

 

[Borek]

Formatting with empty spaces never works correctly.

My other remark (about name uniqueness) still holds.