If an alkene has five carbon atoms, what is its formula?

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Multiple Choice

If an alkene has five carbon atoms, what is its formula?

Explanation:
An alkene with five carbons follows the formula pattern CnH2n for acyclic alkenes. With n = 5, that gives C5H10. The double bond in an alkene removes two hydrogens compared with the alkane formula (which would be C5H12), so you don’t get as many hydrogens as in an all-single-bond chain. The other options don’t match this pattern: C5H12 would be an alkane, C5H8 would fit a chain with a triple bond (alkyne), and C5H14 isn’t a feasible hydrocarbon formula for five carbons.

An alkene with five carbons follows the formula pattern CnH2n for acyclic alkenes. With n = 5, that gives C5H10. The double bond in an alkene removes two hydrogens compared with the alkane formula (which would be C5H12), so you don’t get as many hydrogens as in an all-single-bond chain. The other options don’t match this pattern: C5H12 would be an alkane, C5H8 would fit a chain with a triple bond (alkyne), and C5H14 isn’t a feasible hydrocarbon formula for five carbons.

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