[rtkt01]

 This is my first time ever studying organic chemistry, and I'm not sure whether I understand questions correctly or not.

 These are 2 homework questions after tfirst lecture.

 1. Write structural formulas for 4 constituional isomers of formula C7H16O.

 2. Draw condensed structures for five of the octanes.

 Do I just need to write down 1-heptanol, 2-heptanol, 3-heptanol, and 4 heptanol for question 1 when it says, "write structural formula" ?

 Does five of the octanes mean 5 of 18 structural isomers of octane?

 If so, octane : CH3-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH2-Ch2-CH2-CH3 , 2-Methylheptane :         CH2
                                                                                                              l
                                                                                                       CH3-CH-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH3

 and so on would be a correct way to draw the condensed structures ?
 

[Fridushka]

Do you know how to find the isomers? if yeah your on the right path!..let me know, it's very easy i can help you.
well constitutional isomers..is the kind of the isomer that is writen with line, well im not able to explain it with the right terminolgy, so please use google image so you can see constitutional isomers and understand it, it really helps!
well since you know the nomenclatures so draw them..
well regarding the 2nd part you have to write the condensed structure
here for the octane you wrote..

CH3-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH2-Ch2-CH2-CH3

well here you have to make more condensed if you can
like CH3-(CH2)₆-CH3...so yeah your on the right path so go on.
moreover,

Does five of the octanes mean 5 of 18 structural isomers of octane?

, yeah you're right!
Good Luck.

[DrCMS]

Do I just need to write down 1-heptanol, 2-heptanol, 3-heptanol, and 4 heptanol for question 1 when it says, "write structural formula" ?

Draw out the last two structures you propose, do you think they are the same or different?

Think about branched structures not just straight chains.

[rtkt01]

 Thank you for your inputs.

 How does this look?

1. 1-Heptanol:   /\/\/\/OH
    2-Heptanol:   OH
                        l
                       /\/\/\

    3-Heptanol:   /\/\/\
                         l
                        OH
    4-Heptanol:      OH
                          l
                       /\/\/\
 
2. Octane:  CH3(CH2)6CH3

    2-Methylheptane: (CH3)2CH(CH2)4CH3

    3-Methylheptane: CH3CH2CH(CH3)CH2CH2CH2CH3
   
    4-Methylheptane: (CH3CH2CH2)CHCH3

    3-Ethylhexane:  CH3-CH2-CH(C2H5)-CH2-CH2-CH3


    Problem is actually that answers for question 1 looks more like drawing and answers for queston 2 looks more like writing to me.

    Are these correct ways to write structural formula and draw condensed structures ?

[Fridushka]

Don't ever worry both of them are drawings..but of diffrent type, so here u learned 2 types
All of them were right, good job
Good luck

[DrCMS]

All of them were right, good job

No they were not 3-heptanol and 4-heptanol are the same thing.  That is why I said draw them out. 
There are  branched C7 alcohols that should have been part of the answer.

[Fridushka]

well I dont like to say that you are wrong Dr. CMS but for me ...i dont see them the same

    3-Heptanol:   /\/\/\
                         l
                        OH
    4-Heptanol:      OH
                          l
                       /\/\/\

well in what mean they are the same..?

[macman104]

I also agree that 3 and 4 heptanol are different structures...

You can verify by the smiles too:

CCCC(O)CCC
CCC(O)CCCC

[Fridushka]

Yeah they are different ...

[DrCMS]

Yep i'm wrong i guess i was thinking of hexanol.