Hydrocarbons

Outline1. Methane  2. Structural Model  3. Surface Model4. Cyclohexane

Structural Model

Let's start with the structural model of methane. The atoms are colored using CPK colors. Here are some common elements and their CPK color:

HydrogenWhite
CarbonGray
NitrogenBlue
OxygenRed
PhosphorousOrange

 

First, we see the model, a representation of lines connecting the center of each covalently-bonded atom.

A model represents bonds as lines and atoms as spheres, very similar to physical models that you may have used in organic chemistry, which give an impression of structure.