Parent Chain
Imagine you're trying to untangle a bundle of Christmas lights to find the longest continuous strand without any breaks. This task is similar to identifying the parent chain in an organic molecule, where you must find the sequence of carbon atoms that form the longest unbroken path. Just as you meticulously trace the longest line of lights without interruption, you trace the carbon atoms in the molecule to find the longest sequence, ensuring you identify the primary structure just like pinpointing the main string of lights.
Practice Version
Parent Chain: The longest continuous chain of carbon atoms in an organic molecule. Parent chain. The parent chain is the main backbone of a molecule that determines its base structure and name in organic chemistry.