Which compound has the chemical formula C4H10?

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The compound with the chemical formula C4H10 is butane. This classification comes from the structure of butane, which consists of four carbon atoms (C) and ten hydrogen atoms (H). Butane is an alkane, which means it is part of a family of hydrocarbons with single bonds between carbon atoms.

In its molecular structure, butane can exist in two isomeric forms: n-butane, which has a straight-chain structure, and isobutane, which has a branched structure. The presence of four carbon atoms combined with ten hydrogen atoms adheres to the general formula for alkanes (C_nH_(2n+2)), where n equals the number of carbon atoms. Therefore, for n=4, the formula results in C4H10.

Understanding this information helps in recognizing that the other listed compounds do not match this chemical formula. Ethane (C2H6) and propane (C3H8) have fewer carbon atoms, while acetylene (C2H2) has a completely different structure involving a triple bond and only two carbon atoms. Thus, butane is confirmed as the correct answer for the compound with the formula C4H10.

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