Answer: the answer is 18 hydrogen atoms
Step-by-step explanation:
In an alkane compound, each carbon atom is bonded to four other atoms, including other carbon atoms and hydrogen atoms, in a tetrahedral arrangement. Therefore, the number of hydrogen atoms in an alkane can be calculated using the formula:
H = 2n + 2 - C
where H is the number of hydrogen atoms, n is the number of carbon atoms, and C is the number of other heteroatoms (such as oxygen or nitrogen) in the molecule.
For an alkane with eight carbon atoms, the formula becomes:
H = 2(8) + 2 - 8 = 18
Therefore, there are 18 hydrogen atoms in an alkane compound with eight carbon atoms.