The condensed formula for 1-Bromobutane is CH3CH2CH2CH2Br. It can also be represented as BrCH2CH2CH2CH3 or Br(CH2)3CH3.
Understanding Condensed Formulas
A condensed formula is a shorthand notation used in organic chemistry to represent the structure of a molecule. Unlike a molecular formula (like C4H9Br), which only indicates the number of atoms of each element, a condensed formula shows the connectivity of atoms within the molecule, especially the carbon backbone, without explicitly drawing all the bonds. This makes it easier to visualize the arrangement of atoms and identify functional groups.
For example, instead of drawing out every single C-H bond, CH3 represents a carbon atom bonded to three hydrogen atoms, and CH2 represents a carbon atom bonded to two hydrogen atoms and two other atoms (typically carbons).
1-Bromobutane: Molecular Structure and Properties
1-Bromobutane, also known as n-butyl bromide, is an organobromine compound. Its chemical formula, as found on resources like PubChem, is C4H9Br. This indicates that the molecule consists of four carbon atoms, nine hydrogen atoms, and one bromine atom.
The "1-" in "1-Bromobutane" signifies that the bromine atom is attached to the first carbon atom of the butane chain. Butane is an alkane with a four-carbon straight chain.
Deriving the Condensed Formula for 1-Bromobutane
To derive the condensed formula for 1-Bromobutane, we start by visualizing its structure:
- Butane Chain: A straight chain of four carbon atoms: C-C-C-C
- Bromine Attachment: The bromine (Br) is on the "first" carbon. Conventionally, we can number the carbon chain from the end closest to the substituent. So, let's place Br on one end: Br-C-C-C-C
- Add Hydrogens: Fill in the hydrogen atoms to satisfy carbon's valency of four bonds:
- The carbon bonded to Br will have two hydrogens: Br-CH2-
- The next two carbons in the chain will each have two hydrogens: -CH2-CH2-
- The final carbon at the end of the chain will have three hydrogens: -CH3
Combining these segments gives the full condensed structure:
Br-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH3
However, it is very common in organic chemistry to write alkyl chains starting from the methyl group (CH3) end. When numbered from the methyl end, the bromine is on the fourth carbon. To maintain the "1-Bromo" nomenclature, one implicitly understands that the carbon chain is numbered starting from the end closest to the bromine. Therefore, the most widely accepted condensed formula representing 1-Bromobutane, reflecting its n-butyl structure, is:
CH3CH2CH2CH2Br
This notation clearly shows the four-carbon chain (a butyl group) with a bromine atom attached at the end.
Summary of Formulas for 1-Bromobutane
| Type of Formula | Representation | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Molecular | C4H9Br | Shows the total number of each type of atom. |
| Condensed | CH3CH2CH2CH2Br | Shows connectivity of atoms, simplifying C-H bonds. |
| (Alternative) | BrCH2CH2CH2CH3 | Emphasizes the bromine at the beginning of the chain. |
| (Simplified) | Br(CH2)3CH3 | Compresses the repeating CH2 units. |
| IUPAC Name | 1-Bromobutane | Systematic name indicating structure and position. |
| Common Name | n-Butyl Bromide, Butyl Bromide | Common industrial or historical name. |
