A unified formula for hydrocarbons with applications to functional groups

Abstract

Was supposed a numerical relationship between atoms of Hydrogen and Carbon in a hydrocarbon, assumption valid for all types of chains. In the proposed equation, variables such as number and types of carbon bonds are present, as well as the possible cycles. It was shown that the equation reduces to the known “general formulas” when applied to the type of chain in question. There is also a generalization of the equation to include elements of the group 16 (6A) of the Periodic Table, expanding its application to the molecules containing functional groups of this elements (we used functional groups containing oxygen as examples). This application generates an equation for each functional group, in an effort to study them algebraically; this effort points to the objective of the article, which is to provide algebraic foundations for the countable properties in chemical bonding. Finally, possible generalizations of the equation were mentioned, pointing out ways to be followed by those who are interested in this new subject. Even though it was done as a pure science research, it is easy to ignore non-interesting variables and introduce new interesting ones.