confusion with hydrocarbons (1 Viewer)

[sig]

ok for the systematic naming of hydrocarbons....

they say to find the largest 'straight' or 'unbranched' carbon chain yet some of the examples i've seen they find the largest amount of carbon in a branched formation (they all connect to one another but they are branched)

eg. they would have 4 'straight' carbons then on the very 4th one they would have like 5 additional carbons below it so it makes it a non-something instead of a but-something...so I presume this can't be straight?

just wondering is this allowed or is this straight/unbranched rule just wrong?

 

[Xayma]

It only counts as branching if you have two ways to go (simplest way I could put it)

If you can follow the carbons without needing to chose between 2 Carbons then it is considered unbranched.

Basically a branching off the last one is considered a branch.

 

[sig]

yeah that's what i was beginning to think


thanks for clearing it up