Representing Organic Molecules

There are a number of different ways to represent a molecule. Each has its advantages and disadvantages, and each can be the best way to emphasize some aspect of the structure. Line structures are the most commonly used in organic chemistry, and require some practice to get used to them.

In a line structure, atoms other than C or H are represeted normally by their element symbol. C atom labels are omitted. A C-C single bond is represented as a line, a C=C double bond as a double line, and so on. H atoms connected to carbon atoms are omitted from the drawing, but their presence is implied because carbon forms four bonds: if explicitly-drawn atoms on a carbon are missing, they must be H atoms.

name	methane	ethane	propane
chemical formula	CH4	C2H6	C3H8
condensed structural formula	CH4	CH3CH3	CH3CH2CH3
Lewis structure
line structure
ball and stick structure
spacefilling model
electrostatic potential map

name	1-butene	benzene	caffeine
chemical formula	C4H8	C6H6	C8H10N4O2
condensed structural formula	CH3CH2CH=CH2
Lewis structure
line structure
ball and stick structure
spacefilling model
electrostatic potential map

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