Reading condensed formula of organic compounds

The most important thing to remember is the number of bonds carbon forms. How many bonds does carbon want to form in the organic compounds we have been studying?

Answer: 4 bonds

This is very important along with the fact that hydrogen only needs one bond. So lets look at a condensed formula and see how we would 'see' it.

Consider CH₃CH₂CHCHCH₂CH₃. Is this an alkane, an alkene or an alkyne?

Answer: We need to write the formula in the form C_whateverH_whatever. In this case writing the formula we get C₆H₁₂. This is the formula of an alkene. Remember alkenes have the general formula C_nH_2n.

So since this compound is an alkene we know it contains a double bond. Where is it located in this condensed formula? To answer this question we need draw a Lewis structure, either on paper or mentally and associate the hydrogens with the correct carbons as described in the formula. An important thing to remember is the the hydrogen(s) associated with a particular carbon are generally written to the right of the carbon atom. (Although sometimes the hydrogens are written to the left, but usually only for the left-most carbon in the formula.)

Using this information draw the Lewis structure showing the carbons and the hydrogens?

Answer.