Deducing Isomers of a Compound
- You should be able to deduce all possible isomers for organic compounds knowing their molecular formula
Worked example
How many isomers are there of dibromopropane, C3H6Br2?
Answer
Step 1: Draw the structural formula of the compound
Step 2: Determine whether it is a stereo or structural isomer
There is no restricted bond rotation around the C-C bond, so it is structural isomerism
Step 3: Determine whether it is a functional group, chain or positional isomerism
- Functional group? No, as Br is the only functional group possible
- Chain? No, as the longest chain can only be 3
- Positional? Yes, as the two bromine atoms can be bonded to different carbon atoms
Worked example
How many isomers are there of the compound with molecular formula C4H10?
Answer:
- Step 1: Draw the structural formula of the compound
- Step 2: Determine whether it is a stereo or structural isomer. There is no restricted bond rotation around the C-C bond and there is no chiral centre so it is structural isomerism
- Step 3: Determine whether it is a functional group, chain or positional isomerism
- Functional group? No, as there are no functional groups
- Positional? No, as there are no functional groups which can be positioned on different carbon atoms
- Chain? Yes!
Worked example
How many stereoisomers are there of the compound with molecular formula C2H2Cl2?
Answer:
- Step 1: Draw the possible structural formula of the compound
- Step 2: Determine whether it is a stereo or structural isomer
- The compound has to be unsaturated for it to have molecular formula C2H2Cl2
- Due to the double bond there is restricted rotation about the C-C bond; This compound will therefore display geometrical isomerism
- 1,1-dichloroethene is a structural isomer of 1,2 dichloroethene and does not exhibit stereoisomerism
- The compound has to be unsaturated for it to have molecular formula C2H2Cl2
- Step 3: Determine whether it is optical or geometrical isomerism
- Optical? No, as there are no chiral centres
- Geometric? Yes!