What is the molecular formula for butane?

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Multiple Choice

What is the molecular formula for butane?

Explanation:
Molecular formulas show exactly how many carbon and hydrogen atoms are in a molecule. For alkanes, the pattern is CnH2n+2, where n is the number of carbon atoms. Butane has four carbon atoms, so its hydrogens are 2(4) + 2 = 10. The formula is C4H10. The other formulas correspond to molecules with fewer carbons: CH4 is methane (one carbon), C2H6 is ethane (two carbons), and C3H8 is propane (three carbons).

Molecular formulas show exactly how many carbon and hydrogen atoms are in a molecule. For alkanes, the pattern is CnH2n+2, where n is the number of carbon atoms. Butane has four carbon atoms, so its hydrogens are 2(4) + 2 = 10. The formula is C4H10. The other formulas correspond to molecules with fewer carbons: CH4 is methane (one carbon), C2H6 is ethane (two carbons), and C3H8 is propane (three carbons).

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