Question

Explain the Structural isomerism term with example.

Answer 1

It is a phenomenon in which the compounds having different structural formulas have the same molecular formula.

E.g. n-Butane and isobutane are structural isomers as they have different structural formulae but have a same molecular formula: C₄H₁₀. 

\[\begin{array}{cc}
\ce{H}\phantom{...}\ce{H}\phantom{...}\ce{H}\phantom{...}\ce{H}\\
|\phantom{....}|\phantom{....}|\phantom{....}|\\
\ce{H - C - C - C - C - H}\\
|\phantom{....}|\phantom{....}|\phantom{....}|\\
\ce{H}\phantom{...}\ce{H}\phantom{...}\ce{H}\phantom{...}\ce{H}\\\end{array}\]

n-Butane (C₄H₁₀)

Isobutane (C₄H₁₀)