What method is used to distinguish between different molecular compounds that contain the same elements?

1 Answer
Jul 29, 2017

It is hard to address this question definitively.....

Explanation:

Let's assume you have the chemical formula #C_5H_12#.....Three structural isomers can be generated by this formula: (i) #"n-pentane", H_3C-CH_2CH_2CH_2CH_3;# (ii) #"isobutane", H_3C-CH(CH_3)CH_3;# and (iii) #"neopentane", C(CH_3)_4#.

And we have to choose a spectroscopic means to differentiate these isomers. In this scenario the best means is #""^1H# #"NMR spectroscopy"#, which for isomers, (i), (ii), and (iii), would generate 3 signals, 2 signals, and 1 signal respectively......the first two with the appropriate integral ratio, i.e. #6:4:2#, and #9:1#.