What is the molecular formula for a cycloalkane with 6 carbon atoms?

The molecular formula for a cycloalkane with 6 carbon atoms is C6H12. Cycloalkanes are saturated hydrocarbons, meaning they contain only single bonds between carbon atoms. The general formula for a cycloalkane can be represented as CnH2n, where n is the number of carbon atoms.

For 6 carbon atoms (n = 6), substituting into the formula gives us C6H2(6) = C6H12. This formula indicates that there are 12 hydrogen atoms bonded to the 6 carbon atoms in the cycloalkane. The structure of a cycloalkane forms a ring, allowing for the maximum number of hydrogen atoms to be attached while maintaining the saturated nature of the compound.

The other proposed molecular formulas do not fit the characteristics of cycloalkanes. For example, C6H10 would imply unsaturation, which could indicate the presence of double bonds, while C6H14 and C6H6 do not correspond to the expected number of hydrogen atoms for a saturated 6-carbon ring structure. Thus, C6H12 is the correct choice for the molecular formula of a cycloalkane with 6 carbon atoms.