Name this molecule: C3H6

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Multiple Choice

Name this molecule: C3H6

Explanation:
Relating a hydrocarbon formula to its structure shows whether the molecule is saturated or contains a double bond. For three carbons, a saturated alkane would be propane with the formula C3H8. The given formula C3H6 has two fewer hydrogens, indicating one degree of unsaturation—usually a double bond or a ring. Among common three-carbon hydrocarbons, a double bond appears in propene, which has the structure CH3-CH=CH2. The other way to have C3H6 would be cyclopropane (a ring), but that isn’t listed here. The options with more carbons (propane, butane, pentane) would have more hydrogens (C3H8, C4H10, C5H12), so they don’t fit C3H6. So the correct name is propene.

Relating a hydrocarbon formula to its structure shows whether the molecule is saturated or contains a double bond. For three carbons, a saturated alkane would be propane with the formula C3H8. The given formula C3H6 has two fewer hydrogens, indicating one degree of unsaturation—usually a double bond or a ring.

Among common three-carbon hydrocarbons, a double bond appears in propene, which has the structure CH3-CH=CH2. The other way to have C3H6 would be cyclopropane (a ring), but that isn’t listed here. The options with more carbons (propane, butane, pentane) would have more hydrogens (C3H8, C4H10, C5H12), so they don’t fit C3H6.

So the correct name is propene.

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