organic chem question

[jirotrom]

(CH3)3C(CH2)2CH3

the numbers are subscripts... is it even possible to draw this, wouldn't this mean the alpha carbon has "5" carbon bonds... pretty annoyed at this as I think its an error... either that or I've been studying way to long and I've turned my brain to mush lol.

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[jinzabread]

Maybe this?
sorry for crappy drawing. lol
.......CH3
CH3-C-CH2-CH2-CH3
.......CH3

 

[jirotrom]

I'm assuming thats it, just didn't know you could put parenthesis around the CH2 like that, I thought if you had parenthesis it had to attach to the atom... in other words Im being dumb and its time to go to sleep...

 

[lcataralc]

Yes it is very possible. the (CH2)2 signifies 2 saturated carbons (think a two point line segment) in between the tertiary left end and the primary right end carbons. Try drawing it out with the right number of Hydrogens.

For further clarifications, CH3(CH2)11CH3 would just be a straight line of 13 carbons.