How many isomers can a formula of #C_4H_10O# generate?

2 Answers
Sep 21, 2017

Well, I count 7 isomers.....

Explanation:

There are four alcohols....

#(i)# #H_3C-CH_2CH_2CH_2OH# #,"n-butanol";#

#(ii)# #H_3C-CH_2CH(OH)CH_3# #,"isobutanol";# (and this exists as a pair of enantiomers).

#(iii)# #(H_3C)_3C(OH)# #,"tert-butanol";#

#(iv)# #H_3C-CH(CH_3)CH_2(OH)# #,"2-methylpropanol";#

And three ethers.....

#(v)# #H_3C-CH_2OCH_2CH_3# #,"diethyl ether";#

#(vi)# #H_3C-OCH(CH_3)_2# #,"methyl isopropyl ether";#

#(vii)# #H_3C-O-CH_2CH_2CH_3# #,"methyl propyl ether".#

You should draw the structures yourself. There is no better training for recognizing, and numbering isomers.

Sep 21, 2017

Here's what I get.

Explanation:

Structural isomers

Structural Isomers are molecules with the same molecular formula but different connectivities (the atoms are connected in different orders).

For example, two structural isomers of #"C"_4"H"_10"O"# are butan-1-ol and butan-2-ol.

Alcohols

The #"O"# atom is attached to different carbons in the two isomers.

Two other structural isomers of #"C"_4"H"_10"O"# are methyl propyl ether and diethyl ether.

Ethers

Again, the #"O"# atom is attached to different carbons in the two isomers.

Functional group isomers

Functional group isomers are molecules with the same molecular formula but different functional groups.

For example, butan-1-ol and diethyl ether are functional group isomers.

Functional group

They have the same molecular formula, but one is an alcohol and the other is an ether.