Isomers
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explore and distinguish the different types of structural isomers, including saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons, including: (ACSCH035)
- chain isomers
- position isomers
- functional group isomers
ISOMERS
- Isomers are compounds which share the same molecular formula but different structure. There are three types of isomers to be explored in HSC Chemistry.
Chain isomers
- Chain isomers are molecules with the same molecular formula, but different arrangement of its carbon chain (stem).
- For example, pentane and 2-methyl butane are both alkanes with five carbon atoms and therefore the same molecular formula C5H12. Yet, they are different structural formulae.
Pentane (C5H12) |
Methylbutane (C5H12) |
Position isomers
- Position isomers are molecules with the same molecular formula and functional group, but the position of the functional group is different.
- For example, 1-butene and 2-butene both have the same molecular formula C4H8 but the position of the double bond is found in different positions.
1-butene (C4H8) |
2-butene (C4H8) |
Functional group isomers
- Functional group isomers are molecules with the same molecular formula, but different functional groups.
- There are three pairs of functional group isomers:
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