#drawing molecules

[hojpojjery]

Is it weird I find organic chemistry fun?

[organic-chemistry-notes]

More Basics For Drawing Molecules

The first thing you need to know about chemistry is that chemists are lazy.

Because of this, when it comes to drawing molecules they tend not to write out the Carbon groups. You end up with things that look like this:

When what they really mean is this:

That being said, whenever you are dealing with a Carbon group (CH2, CH3), it will generally be left out of the molecule drawing. As you can see, the Carbon groups are wherever the line bends, and on the end of any line that does not end in an atom. (Generally CH2 groups are at the bends, because the C is bonded to a Carbon on either side, leaving two orbitals for the Hydrogen to bond, while the CH3 groups are at the ends of the lines, leaving three spots for the Hydrogens to bond.)

Occasionally, they will actually write the CH3 group onto the end of the molecule, so be prepared to see it written out in either way.