Skeletal Formulas

The chemist’s shorthand

An interactive lesson with 7 steps, about 6 minutes: you predict, drag and solve, with instant feedback on every answer. It runs in your browser and needs JavaScript.

What you’ll learn

• Skeletal formula: corners and line ends are carbons; C–H hydrogens are implied.
• H on carbon = 4 − (bonds to other atoms).

Steps

1. Only the skeleton
2. Hexane, the shorthand way
3. From full drawing to skeleton
4. Count the carbons
5. Spot the CH₂ groups
6. Hidden hydrogens
7. Same or different?