Which of the following is the best name for this compound?

Question

and why?

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Answer 1

isobutane

Answer 2

It is always best to use IUPac nomenclature. In this case:

Isobutane is the trivial name retained by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) in its 1993 Recommendations for the Nomenclature of Organic Chemistry.

Methylpropane is the systematic name. The substituent number (2-) is unnecessary because there is no isomer of this molecule with methylpropane as part of its name.

Therefore methylpropane is the most appropriate name.