ISOMERISM

The phenomenon that two or more different chemical compounds have the same molecular formula is called isomerism,
isomerism, from the Greek isos meaning “equal”, and meros meaning “part”, a concept and term introduced by the Swedish
scientist Jacob Berzelius in 1830.

Isomerism is a consequence of the fact that the atoms of a molecular formula can be arranged in different ways to give
compounds, called isomers, that differ in physical and chemical properties.
There are two types of isomerism: structural isomerism and stereoisomerism, which can be divided into further subtypes.

Structural isomerism
In structural isomerism, also called constitutional
isomerism, isomers differ from each other in that the
constituent atoms are linked in different ways and
sequences.
There are several subtypes of structural isomerism:
positional, functional group and chain isomerism.

Positional isomers
In positional isomerism, also called position
isomerism, isomers have the same functional
groups but in different positions on the same carbon
chain.