Question

Explain of chain isomerism with an example.

Answer 1

Chain isomerism, also known as skeletal isomerism, is a type of structural isomerism in which compounds have the same molecular formula but differ in the arrangement of their carbon skeletons (straight or branched).

Example:

Pentane (C₅H₁₂)

\[\ce{\underset{Pentane}{CH3 - CH2 - CH2 - CH2 - CH3}}\]

\[\begin{array}{cc}
\ce{CH3}\phantom{.......}\\
|\phantom{.........}\\
\ce{\underset{iso pentane (2-methyl butane)}{CH3 - CH - CH2 - CH3}}
\end{array}\]

\[\begin{array}{cc}
\phantom{..}\ce{CH3}\\
|\\
\ce{CH3 - C - CH3}\\
|\\
\phantom{...}\ce{\underset{[2, 2-dimethyl propane]}{\underset{neo-pentane}{CH3}}}\\
\end{array}\]