structural formulas

ddrisc33 | 01:47 Sat 24th Sep 2005 | Science

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what is the structual formula of CHCL3

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Piper-AK

Tri-chloro methane has only one structural formula which is as you have written it - CHCl3. It shows that the structure of the molecule is such that the carbon atom has one hydrogen and three chlorines attached.

Structural formulas show (simplistically) what each carbon in a molecule has attached to it. A similar molecule to yours has the molecular formula CH3CCl3 - ie has two carbons, three hydrogens and three chlorines. To show which isotope you're on about, you write the structural formula so you see each carbon in turn with its attachments. ie

CH3CCl3 - carbon 1 has three hydrogens, carbon 2 has 3 chlorines

CH2ClCHCl2 - carbon 1 has two hydrogens and one chlorine, carbon 2 has one hydrogen plus two chlorines

CHCl2CH2Cl - carbon 1 has one hydrogen and two chlorines, carbon 2 has two hydrogens plus one chlorine.

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