The IUPAC name for the chemical formula C2H6 is ethane.
Let's break down why:
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C2H6 Structure: C2H6 represents a molecule with two carbon atoms and six hydrogen atoms. This structure corresponds to an alkane, meaning it's a saturated hydrocarbon (containing only single bonds).
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IUPAC Nomenclature for Alkanes: The IUPAC (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry) naming system provides standardized rules for naming organic compounds. For alkanes:
- The base name is determined by the number of carbon atoms in the longest continuous chain.
- Prefixes and suffixes are added to indicate substituents and functional groups.
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Two Carbon Atoms: A two-carbon alkane has the prefix "eth-".
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Alkane Suffix: Alkanes have the suffix "-ane".
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Combining Prefix and Suffix: Combining the prefix "eth-" with the suffix "-ane" gives us "ethane".
Therefore, the IUPAC name for C2H6 is ethane, indicating a two-carbon alkane.
