A skeletal structure is a simplified representation of an organic molecule that shows the bonding between atoms, excluding hydrogen atoms. It uses lines to represent carbon-carbon bonds and vertices or line ends to represent carbon atoms.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
Hydrogen atoms are typically omitted in skeletal structures for simplicity.
Each vertex or line end represents a carbon atom unless otherwise specified.
Double and triple bonds are depicted by double and triple lines respectively.
Heteroatoms (non-carbon/hydrogen atoms) and their attached hydrogens are explicitly shown.
Skeletal structures are useful for visualizing the overall shape and connectivity of large organic molecules.
Review Questions
Related terms
Hydrocarbon: An organic compound consisting entirely of hydrogen and carbon.
Functional Group: A group of atoms responsible for the characteristic reactions of a particular compound.
Isomer: Compounds with the same molecular formula but different structural arrangements.