What is the IUPAC name for C5H12?

The molecular formula C5H12 corresponds to a straight-chain alkane that contains five carbon atoms. According to IUPAC nomenclature rules, the names of alkanes are derived from the number of carbon atoms in the longest continuous chain, with the suffix "-ane" indicating that it is a saturated hydrocarbon.

For five carbon atoms, the prefix "pent-" is used, leading to the name "pentane." This is consistent with the general naming conventions for alkanes, where the name reflects the number of carbon atoms, and C5H12 distinctly identifies a straight-chain hydrocarbon without any branches or functional groups.

In contrast, hexane refers to a six-carbon alkane, butane is a four-carbon alkane, and propane is a three-carbon alkane. Each of these has a different number of carbon atoms and therefore a different IUPAC name. The correct identification of pentane for C5H12 reinforces the understanding of how the IUPAC naming system categorizes alkanes based on their structure and carbon chain length.