Isomerism - Practice Questions & MCQ

Structural isomerism
Compounds having the same molecular formula but different structures (manners in which atoms are linked) are classified as structural isomers. Some typical examples of different types of structural isomerism are given below:

• Chain isomerism: When two or more compounds have similar molecular formula but different carbon skeletons, these are referred to as chain isomers and the phenomenon is termed as chain isomerism. For example, C₅H₁₂ represents three compounds as follows:
   
• Position isomerism: When two or more compounds differ in the position of substituent atom or functional group on the carbon skeleton, they are called position isomers and this phenomenon is termed as position isomerism. For example, the molecular formula C₃H₈O represents two alcohols:
  
          
                Propan-1-ol                                         Propan-2-ol
   
• Functional group isomerism: Two or more compounds having the same molecular formula but different functional groups are called functional isomers and this phenomenon is termed as functional group isomerism. For example, the molecular formula C₃H₆O represents an aldehyde and a ketone as follows:
  
• Metamerism: It arises due to different alkyl chains on either side of the functional group in the molecule. For example, C₄H₁₀O represents methoxypropane (CH₃OC₃H₇) and ethoxyethane (C₂H₅OC₂H₅).