Which of the following is the correct molecular formula for Pentane?

Pentane is an alkane, which is a type of hydrocarbon that follows the general formula ( C_nH_{2n+2} ), where ( n ) is the number of carbon atoms in the molecule. In the case of pentane, the name reflects that it contains five carbon atoms.

To determine the molecular formula, you can substitute ( n = 5 ) into the general formula:

[

C_nH_{2n+2} \Rightarrow C_5H_{(2 \times 5) + 2} = C_5H_{12}

]

Thus, the correct molecular formula for pentane is ( C_5H_{12} ).

The other formulas provided correspond to different alkanes. For instance, ( C_4H_{10} ) represents butane, ( C_6H_{14} ) is hexane, and ( C_3H_8 ) is propane. Each of these has a different number of carbon atoms and therefore a different molecular formula, demonstrating the unique properties of each alkane based on its carbon count.