Question #209ad

1 Answer
Mar 28, 2017

There are three isomers of propanol and eight isomers of propanal/propanone.

Explanation:

Propanol isomers

Propanol

The three isomers are propan-1-ol, propan-2-ol, and methoxyethane.

Propanal and propanone isomers

Propanal and propanone are isomers of each other, so I will discuss them together.

Their formulas are #"C"_3"H"_6"O"#, so they must contain a double bond or a ring.

Step 1. Draw all structures with a #"C=O"# bond.

C=O Compounds

This gives propanal and propanone

Step 2. Draw all structures with a #"C=C"# bond.

Ene-ols

This gives prop-1-en-1-ol, prop-1-en-2-ol, and prop-3-en-1-ol.

Step 3. Draw all carbocyclic ring structures.

Cyclopropanol

This gives cyclopropanol.

Step 4. Draw all heterocyclic rings.

Heterocyclic

This gives 1,2-epoxypropane and 1,3-epoxypropane.

That makes eight isomers of propanal and propanone.