central science

Skeletal formulae

A common way of drawing out the structure of molecules (esp. in organic chemistry) is to use a skeletal formula.

In a skeletal formula, a C-C bond is symbolized by a straight line. A C-C-C chain would be a straight line with another straight line coming off the first at an angle (to distinguish the bonds). C-H bonds are not shown in skeletal formulae. Instead, you are assumed to know which Carbon atoms should have C-H bonds and how many they should have.

Any atoms that are not C or H are called heteroatoms, and their element symbols must be explicitly written into the structure (as well as any bonds between heteroatoms and hydrogen atoms)

(Source: ivy-rose.co.uk)