How do you name a cycloalkane with 6 carbon atoms?

To name a cycloalkane with 6 carbon atoms, the correct term is "cyclohexane." The naming of cycloalkanes involves combining the prefix that denotes the number of carbon atoms in the ring with the term "cyclo." For a six-carbon ring, the prefix "hex-" is used, leading to cyclohexane. Cyclohexane is a saturated hydrocarbon, meaning it contains single bonds and is fully saturated with hydrogen atoms, following the general formula CnH2n for cycloalkanes, which confirms that for n = 6, the structure indeed comprises 12 hydrogen atoms (C6H12).

The other terms refer to cycloalkanes with different numbers of carbon atoms. Cyclopropane has three carbon atoms, cyclobutane has four, and cyclopentane has five. Each of these names utilizes the appropriate prefix for their respective number of carbon atoms, highlighting the systematic approach to naming these cyclic compounds in organic chemistry.