Question

The number of covalent bonds in pentane (molecular formula C₅H₁₂) is:

Options

• 5

• 12

• 17

• 16

Answer 1

16
The number of covalent bonds in pentane is 16.
This is clear from the structure of pentane shown below:

\[\begin{array}{cc}
\phantom{}\ce{H}\phantom{..}\ce{H}\phantom{..}\ce{H}\phantom{..}\ce{H}\phantom{..}\ce{H}\\
\phantom{...}|\phantom{...}|\phantom{...}|\phantom{...}|\phantom{...}|\phantom{...}\\
\ce{H-C-C-C-C-C-H}\\
\phantom{...}|\phantom{...}|\phantom{...}|\phantom{...}|\phantom{...}|\phantom{...}\\
\phantom{}\ce{H}\phantom{..}\ce{H}\phantom{..}\ce{H}\phantom{..}\ce{H}\phantom{..}\ce{H}
\end{array}\]