Isomers

Also called

isomerism · structural isomers · chain isomerism · position isomerism · functional group isomerism · stereoisomers · geometrical isomerism · cis trans isomers · but-2-ene · chirality · chiral carbon · enantiomers · optical isomers · mirror image molecules · butane isobutane · propanol isomers · ethanol dimethyl ether · समावयवता · समावयवी · किरैल कार्बन

Topics

• Isomers share one molecular formula but differ in the arrangement of their atoms, so they are different compounds.
• Chain isomers differ in the carbon skeleton: butane is a straight chain, 2-methylpropane is branched; both are C₄H₁₀.
• Position isomers carry the same group on different carbons: propan-1-ol and propan-2-ol, both C₃H₈O.
• Functional isomers have different functional groups: ethanol (an alcohol) and methoxymethane (an ether), both C₂H₆O.
• A C=C double bond cannot rotate, so but-2-ene exists as cis (methyls on the same side) and trans (opposite sides).
• A carbon bonded to four different groups is chiral: its mirror image cannot be superimposed on it, like two hands.
• Such non-superimposable mirror images are enantiomers; they rotate plane-polarised light in opposite directions.
• Stereoisomers have the same bonds but a different arrangement in space…

About this model

A GLB file of about 290 KB, shown in Lably's 3D viewer and, on a phone, placed in your room with AR. Credit: Model, science and animation: Lably (built procedurally with three.js; no downloaded meshes). | CC BY 4.0. Original geometry and animation made for Lably.

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