To draw aromatic hydrocarbons ...

1. When drawing a structural formula from a name, first look at the ending of the name to determine if the parent chain is benzene or an aliphatic compound. Draw the parent chain first.
   
   
2. Number the carbons on the parent chain such that the branches fall on the lowest carbon numbers. If the parent chain is a benzene ring, number the carbons such that the branches have the lowest possible numbers. Note that the branch that is first alphabetically should be placed at carbon 1.

Check Your Understanding

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