Structural Isomers

Consider compounds with the molecular formula C₄H₁₀.

There are two valid structures that fit this molecular formula.

A linear structure:	A branched structure:

n-butane	iso-butane (or 2-methylpropane)
model (cpk/ball & stick)	model(cpk/ball & stick)

These two compounds are structural isomers, they have the same number of carbon atoms (four) and hydrogen atoms (ten), but the atoms are connected differently.

Consider compounds with the molecular formula C₄H₉Br.

There are four valid structures with this molecular formula.

Two have linear carbon skeletons:


1-bromobutane	2-bromobutane
model (cpk/ball & stick)	model (cpk/ball & stick)

Two have branched carbon skeletons:


1-bromo-2-methylpropane	2-bromo-2-methylpropane
model (cpk/ball & stick)	model (cpk/ball & stick)

Again, these four compounds are all structural isomers of each other.

They contain the same number and types of atoms, but the atoms are connected differently.

Last Update: 03/05/01