Question #ce86c

1 Answer
MeneerNask
Nov 6, 2015

Think of the ethane molecule as two carbon-atoms surrounded by hydrogens, being replaced one by one.

Explanation:

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For the first Cl there is only one possibility. Of course you can replace any of the six H's, but they are all equivalent, so it doesn't matter which you choose (result: chloro-ethane)

For the second you can choose to use the C that already has the first Cl, or you can choose the other (result: either 1,1- or 1,2- dichloro-ethane).

For the third : if you start with the 1,1 version you can add on that C, or on the other (1,1,1- or 1,1,2- trichlorothane). if you start with the other, it doesn't matter, because 1,2,2 is automatically renamed to 1,1,2.

In short, if there is a majority on one of the C's, they get the lowest number.

You should be able to work it out from here.

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