CARBON COMPOUND

ISOMERISM
 ISOMERISM
• Isomerism : Existence of two (2) or more
organic compounds with the same
molecular formula but different
arrangements of atoms
• Isomers are molecules which have :
– Same molecular formula
– Different structural formulae
 Characteristics
• Isomer characteristics :
(a) Have same chemical properties
(same homologous series)
(b) Have different physical properties

No. of carbon atoms in No. of isomers

one molecule Alkane Alkene Alcohol
1 0 - 0
2 0 0 0
3 0 0 2
4 2 3 4
ISOMERS
• ALKANE

• ALKENE

• ALCOHOL
 (A) ALKANE
• Isomerism exists in alkanes as there are
different carbon chain for certain alkane
• The atoms in alkane isomers arranged
differently, producing :-
☼ Straight carbon chain – C – C – C – C –
☼ Branch chain
–C–C–C–
Side
Parent
c Chain
Chain
 EXAMPLE

–C–C–C– 2-methylpropane
I
C

–C–C–C–C– butane
 Drawing the structural formulae
of the Alkane Isomers
• Step 1 : Draw all the possible structures of
the carbon chain (straight or
branch chain)
• Step 2 : Draw single bonds around every
carbon atom. Carbon atom
(4 single covalent bond)
• Step 3 : Place a hydrogen atom at each of
the single bond
 Draw all the possible structures of the carbon
chain (straight or branch chain)

Butane
C–C–C–C (Straight chain)

–C–C–C– 2-methylpropane
I
(Branch chain)
C
Side chain
 Draw single bonds around every carbon atom.
Carbon atom (4 single covalent bond)

–C–C–C– 2-methylpropane
I
C

–C–C–C–C– butane
 Place a hydrogen atom at each of the single
bond

H H H

H – C – C – C –H 2-methylpropane
I
H H
H– C –H
H

H H H H

H– C – C – C – C –H butane

H H H H
 (B) ALKENE
• Isomerism exists in alkene due to :
(a) The different carbon chains
(the branching)
(b) The different positions of the carbon-
carbon double bond in molecule
• Example : C4H8 3 isomers
 EXAMPLE
–C–C–C–C– But-2-ene

–C–C–C–C– But-1-ene

–C–C–C–
I 2-methylpropene
C
 Drawing the structural formulae
of the Alkene Isomers
• Step 1 : Draw all the possible structures of
the carbon chain (straight or
branch chain)
• Step 2 : For each carbon chain, place a
double bond at different locations
• Step 3 : Place a hydrogen atom at each of
the single bond
 (C) ALCOHOL
• Isomerism exists in alcohol due to :
(a) The different carbon chains
(straight-chain OR branch-chain) in
alcohol molecule
(b) The different positions of the hydroxyl
(-OH) group in the molecule in
molecule
• Example : C4H9OH 4 isomers
 EXAMPLE

–C–C–C–C– Butan-1-ol

OH

–C–C–C–C– Butan-2-ol

OH
 EXAMPLE

–C–C–C– 2-methylpropan-1-ol
I
OH C

OH
–C–C–C–
I 2-methylpropan-2-ol
C