What is the difference between a condensed structural formula and a structural formula?

Question

Ellie Adams · Accepted Answer

A structural formula uses lines to show the bonds between the atoms. A condensed structural formula omits most or all the bonds.

Structural Formula

A structural formula tells us which atoms are in a molecule. It also shows us how they connect to each other.

There are different types of structural formula. The least complicated structural formula tells us which atoms connect to which.

Below are the structural formulas of ethane, propane and ethanol.

Condensed Structural Formula

A condensed structural formula is a system of writing organic structures so we can type them in a line of text.

It shows all atoms, but omits the vertical bonds and most or all the horizontal ones.

The condensed structural formulas of ethane, propane, and ethanol are

CH₃CH₃, CH₃CH₂CH₃, and CH₃CH₂OH

A condensed structural formula uses parentheses to show that polyatomic groups within a formula are attached to the nearest non-hydrogen atom on the left.

So the condensed structural formula of propan-2-ol is CH₃CH(OH)CH₃.

It also uses parentheses to show that polyatomic groups at the beginning of a formula are attached to the atom on the right.

So we could also write the condensed structural formula of propan-2-ol as (CH₃)₂CHOH.

And we could write the condensed structural formula of hexane as CH₃CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₃ or CH₃(CH₂)₄CH₃.

Jacob Anderson · Answer

undefined A structural formula represents the arrangement of atoms in a molecule, while a condensed structural formula shows the same information but in a more abbreviated form. The condensed form omits certain details, such as bonds and some carbon-hydrogen groups, to simplify the representation.

Addison Armstrong · Answer

undefined A condensed structural formula shows all the atoms in a molecule and also implicitly shows the bonds between them. It uses parentheses and brackets to indicate repeating units, simplifying the representation of complex molecules.

A structural formula provides more detail by explicitly showing each atom and the bonds between them, often using lines to represent bonds and indicating the arrangement of atoms within the molecule more explicitly.