Draw the structure for each compound. a. ethylbenzene

Key Concepts

Hydrocarbons

Hydrocarbons are organic compounds consisting entirely of hydrogen and carbon. They can be classified into aliphatic (straight or branched chains) and aromatic (ring structures with delocalized electrons). Ethylbenzene, for example, is an aromatic hydrocarbon that contains a benzene ring and an ethyl group, illustrating the combination of these two types.

Functional Groups

Functional groups are specific groups of atoms within molecules that are responsible for the characteristic chemical reactions of those molecules. In ethylbenzene, the presence of the ethyl group (-C2H5) attached to the benzene ring influences its reactivity and properties, making it important to recognize when drawing its structure.

Structural Representation

Structural representation refers to the way in which the arrangement of atoms in a molecule is depicted. For ethylbenzene, this involves illustrating the benzene ring with alternating double bonds and the ethyl group attached to one of the carbon atoms in the ring. Understanding how to accurately represent these structures is crucial for visualizing and predicting the behavior of organic compounds.