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Line Structure

Line structures are visual representations of organic compounds (compounds containing carbon). Carbon and the hydrogen atoms attached are not shown explicitly.

There are 2 important generalizations/rules with line structures related to chemical bonding -

  1. A hydrogen atom in an organic molecule/compound can form only one covalent bond to one other atom.

  2. Every carbon atom in an organic molecule/compound always forms exactly 4 covalent bonds.

    1. Double lines represent double bonds.