Isopropyl alcohol is a three carbon molecule with an -OH group attached to the middle carbon atom

Isopropyl alcohol is a three carbon molecule with an -OH group attached to the middle carbon atom. draw the lewis structure showing all the bonds and line drawing of this molecule

The Correct Answer and Explanation is:

Lewis Structure and Line Drawing of Isopropyl Alcohol

Lewis Structure (All Bonds Shown):

mathematicaCopyEdit          H   H
          |   |
    H – C – C – C – H
        |   |   |
        H  OH   H

Expanded version (showing all atoms and bonds):

mathematicaCopyEdit      H   H       H
      |   |       |
H – C – C – OH    C – H
      |           |
      H           H

Line Drawing (Skeletal Formula):

markdownCopyEdit       OH
        |
CH3 — CH — CH3

In line drawings:

  • Each line represents a bond.
  • Carbon atoms are at the ends and junctions of lines.
  • Hydrogen atoms attached to carbon are not shown (assumed).
  • Only the -OH group is drawn explicitly since it includes oxygen.

Explanation

Isopropyl alcohol, also known as 2-propanol, has a molecular formula of C₃H₈O. It is composed of three carbon atoms arranged in a chain, with the central carbon bonded to a hydroxyl group (–OH). This placement gives it the name “isopropyl,” meaning a branched chain with the functional group on the middle carbon.

To draw its Lewis structure, you start by placing three carbon atoms. Each carbon atom forms four bonds, as required by its valency. Two of these carbon atoms are on the ends (methyl groups – CH₃), and the middle carbon is bonded to both of these methyl groups and the –OH group. The middle carbon also has one hydrogen to make up four bonds in total.

Oxygen in the hydroxyl group forms two bonds: one to hydrogen and one to the central carbon. It also has two lone pairs, but in a simple Lewis structure, they are often not shown unless required.

The skeletal or line drawing simplifies the structure by omitting hydrogen atoms attached to carbon. It is widely used in organic chemistry to make structural drawings clearer and less cluttered.

This molecule is polar due to the presence of the –OH group, which can form hydrogen bonds. This polarity makes isopropyl alcohol soluble in water and a common disinfectant and solvent.

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