Three-Dimensional Representations: Wedge-Dash Notation
The most commonly-used notation for straight-chain molecules in organic chemistry is the
Wedge-Dash Notation. This was also the main type of structure used in the Definitions section of this tutorial.
In this notation, two bonds are drawn in the plane of the page (
sticks), one bond is drawn coming toward you, out of the page (
wedged), and one bond is drawn going away from you, behind the page (
dashed).
In the structure above, the alcohol on the second carbon is behind the page. Since there must be four bonds to each carbon, and two
sticks and one
dash have been drawn in, the remaining hydrogen must be
wedged.
A similar analysis can be done for the carbon with the methyl group. What is the orientation for the remaining hydrogen?
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