The chemical formula for propane is \( \text{C}_3\text{H}_8 \). In a ball-and-stick model of propane, you would typically see three carbon (C) atoms connected in a chain, with each carbon atom bonded to hydrogen (H) atoms. The central carbon atom is bonded to two hydrogen atoms, while each terminal carbon atom is bonded to three hydrogen atoms.
The arrangement looks like this:
H H
| |
H - C - C - C - H
| |
H H
In this model, the sticks represent the bonds between the atoms, while the balls represent the individual atoms (with black or grey for carbon and white for hydrogen, typically).