Based upon the number of carbon atoms attached to a carbon atom, it is termed as primary (1°), secondary (2°), tertiary (3°) or quaternary (4°) . A tertiary (3°) carbon is attached to three other carbon atoms.
Let us evaluate the structures of the given isomers of C6H14:
- 2-Methylpentane (CH3-CH(CH3)-CH2-CH2-CH3): The C-2 atom is attached to three carbons, so it has exactly one 3° carbon.
- 2,3-Dimethylbutane (CH3-CH(CH3)-CH(CH3)-CH3): Both the C-2 and C-3 atoms are attached to three other carbon atoms . Thus, it contains two 3° carbons.
- 2,2-Dimethylbutane (CH3-C(CH3)2-CH2-CH3): The C-2 atom is attached to four carbons, making it a quaternary (4°) carbon . It contains zero 3° carbons.
- n-Hexane (CH3-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH3): This is a continuous straight-chain alkane containing only primary (1°) and secondary (2°) carbon atoms .
Therefore, 2,3-Dimethylbutane is the correct compound.