Final answer:
To identify the parent chain of an organic molecule, find the longest continuous chain of carbon atoms and number them accordingly.
Step-by-step explanation:
The parent chain of an organic molecule can be identified by following these steps:
Find the longest continuous chain of carbon atoms in the molecule. This is called the parent chain.
Number the carbon atoms in the parent chain, starting from the end that will give the smallest numbers to the carbon atoms where the branches originate.
For example, if we have a molecule with a longest chain of eight carbon atoms, the parent hydrocarbon would be octane. We would then number the carbon atoms in the parent chain, starting from the end with the branches in the lowest numbered positions.