ISOMERISM

Isomers are compounds having the same molecular formula but

different structures.
Methane (CH4), Ethane (CH3CH3) & Propane (C3H8) can be drawn
in one way only.

H H H H
H H
H C C C H
H C H H C C H
H H H
H H H

Methane Ethane Propane

• However, molecules with formula C4H10 can be built in 2
ways: Constitutional isomers or Structural isomers
H
H H H H
H C H
H C C C C H
H H
H H H H
H C C CH
Butane H H H
Straight chain
Isobutane (2-Methylpropane)
Branched chain

• C2H6O can also be drawn in 2 ways: 2 Structural isomers

H H H H

H C C OH H C O C H

H H H H

Dimethyl ether
Ethyl alcohol
Structural isomers have different physical and chemical
characteristics as shown in the following examples.
Ethyl alcohol – B.P. 78.5C
Dimethyl ether – B.P. 24.8C

Exercises:
i)Draw structures of the five isomers of C4H14.
ii)There are seven constitutional isomers with formula C4H10O.
 Alkyl Groups
• If a hydrogen atom is removed from an alkane, the partial
structure that remains is called an alkyl group.
• Alkyl groups are not stable; simply part of a compound.
For example: from methane ----- methyl
ethane ------- ethyl

H H H H

H C H H C H C O H H C N H

H H H H H

Methane Methyl Methyl alcohol Methylamine

(Methanol)
Generation of Straight-chain & Branched-chain Alkyl Groups
from Alkanes
The prefix sec (for secondary) and tert (for tertiary) refer to the
degree of alkyl substitution at the branching carbon atom.

Four possible degree of alkyl substitution for C:

1 (primary)
2 (secondary)
3 (tertiary)
4 (quarternary)

R is used to represent a generalized organic group.

R can be methyl, ethyl, propyl or others.