Question

For the following formulas, what types of isomerism could be exhibited? For each formula, give an example that illustrates the specific type of isomerism. The types of isomerism are structural, geometric, and optical.

a. C₆H₁₂ b. C₅H₁₂O c. C₆H₄Br₂

Short answer

a) Structural and geometric isomers could be exhibited by this molecular formula.

(b) Molecular formula exhibits two types of isomers optical and geometric

(c) Molecules with this molecular formula have structural, optical and geometric isomers

Step-by-step solution

To find the type of isomerism for C6H12

There are two types of isomers for molecules with formula ${\mathrm{C}}_6{\mathrm{H}}_{12}$.Structural isomers has the same formula but a different order of atoms in the molecule. In this case, there exists cyclic cyclohexane and linear 2-hexene containing one double bond.

The second type of isomers exhibited by this formula is geometric isomers. They have the same order of atoms in the molecule but the different spatial arrangement of them.

Hence Structural and geometric isomers could be exhibited by this molecular formula.

To find the type of isomerism for C5H12O

Optical isomers are the first type of isomers that molecules with this molecular formula can have. These two 2-pentanols are like mirror images and non-superimposable but they have the same atomic order in the molecule.

The second type of isomers is geometric isomers. This type of isomers have the same molecular formula but different atomic order in the molecule. In our case, 2 -pentanol and 3-pentanol are geometric isomers. See the picture below.

Hence This molecular formula exhibits two types of isomers optical and geometric

To find the type of isomerism for C6H4Br2

In this part there exists all three types of isomers.

Hence, molecules with this molecular formula have structural, optical and geometric isomers.