Consider the structure below How many carbon atoms does the parent chain contain?

Consider the structure below

How many carbon atoms does the parent chain contain? 

Answer Details

The parent chain in the given structure contains 5 carbon atoms. The parent chain is the longest continuous chain of carbon atoms in a molecule, and it is used as the basis for naming organic compounds. In the given structure, the longest continuous chain of carbon atoms starts from the leftmost carbon atom and extends to the rightmost carbon atom, with a total of 5 carbon atoms. The other carbon atoms in the molecule are attached to the parent chain as substituents. In this case, there are two substituents, each consisting of a single carbon atom with a methyl (-CH3) group attached. Therefore, the parent chain in the given structure contains 5 carbon atoms.