Which name corresponds to the straight-chain hydrocarbon with five carbon atoms?

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Multiple Choice

Which name corresponds to the straight-chain hydrocarbon with five carbon atoms?

Explanation:
Alkanes are named by the number of carbon atoms in the main chain, and a straight chain means there are no branches. For a five-carbon chain, the prefix is pent- and the suffix for a saturated hydrocarbon is -ane, giving pentane. So pentane specifically names a five-carbon straight-chain alkane. The other options correspond to different carbon counts: hexane has six, butane has four, and heptane has seven, so they don’t describe a five-carbon straight chain.

Alkanes are named by the number of carbon atoms in the main chain, and a straight chain means there are no branches. For a five-carbon chain, the prefix is pent- and the suffix for a saturated hydrocarbon is -ane, giving pentane. So pentane specifically names a five-carbon straight-chain alkane. The other options correspond to different carbon counts: hexane has six, butane has four, and heptane has seven, so they don’t describe a five-carbon straight chain.

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