A saturated acyclic hydrocarbon with the molecular formula C ₇ H ₁₆ is found to have exactly one tertiary carbon atom and one quaternary carbon atom. What is the IUPAC name of this compound?

Step-by-step solution

The given molecular formula is C ₇ H ₁₆ , which represents a saturated acyclic hydrocarbon (alkane). Analyzing the given options based on the types of carbon atoms present: For 2,2-dimethylpentane, the structure is CH ₃- C ( CH ₃)₂- CH ₂- CH ₂- CH ₃ . It contains one quaternary carbon (C2) and zero tertiary carbons. For 3-ethylpentane, the structure is CH ₃- CH ₂- CH ( C ₂ H ₅)- CH ₂- CH ₃ . It contains one tertiary carbon (C3) and zero quaternary carbons. For 2,3-dimethylpentane, the structure is CH ₃- CH ( CH ₃)-