Draw a structural formula of either 2-chloro-3-methylpentane or 2-chloro-3-methylhexane, clearly showing 2-chloro-3-methylpentane and 2-chloro-3-methylhexane were dissolved together and the mixture was analysed using gas chromatography - VCE - SSCE Chemistry - Question 1 - 2009 - Paper 1

The structural formula of 2-chloro-3-methylpentane can be represented as follows:

  H   H   H   H
  |   |   |   |
H-C -C -C-Cl 
  |   |   | 
  H   C -H 
      | 
      H

This structure shows a chlorine (Cl) atom attached to the second carbon in a 5-carbon pentane chain, with a methyl (C-H₃) group attached to the third carbon.

Alternatively, the structure of 2-chloro-3-methylhexane is as follows:

  H   H   H   H   H
  |   |   |   |   |
H-C -C -C-Cl 
  |   |   | 
  H   C  H 
      |   
      H

This structure illustrates a chlorine atom on the second carbon in a 6-carbon hexane chain, with a methyl group on the third carbon.