The number of covalent bonds in pentane

Pentane is a hydrocarbon with the chemical formula C5H12. This means it has 5 carbon (C) atoms and 12 hydrogen (H) atoms.

In a molecule of pentane, each carbon atom forms 4 covalent bonds and each hydrogen atom forms 1 covalent bond.

The carbon atoms form a chain, with each carbon atom (except for the ones at the ends of the chain) bonding with two other carbon atoms and two hydrogen atoms. This means that each of the three carbon atoms in the middle of the chain forms 4 covalent bonds.

The carbon atoms at the ends of the chain each bond with three hydrogen atoms and one carbon atom, so they also form 4 covalent bonds.

The hydrogen atoms each form one covalent bond with a carbon atom.

So, in total, there are (3 carbon atoms * 4 bonds) + (2 carbon atoms * 4 bonds) + (12 hydrogen atoms * 1 bond) = 12 + 8 + 12 = 32 covalent bonds in a molecule of pentane.