Question

Use the Build a Molecule simulation (http://openstaxcollege.org/l/16molbuilding) to repeat Exercise 2.34, but build a molecule with two carbons, six hydrogens, and one oxygen.(a) Draw the structural formula of this molecule and state its name.(b) Can you arrange these atoms to make a different molecule? If so, draw its structural formula and state its name.(c) How are the molecules drawn in (a) and (b) the same? How do they differ? What are they called (the type of relationship between these molecules, not their names)?

Short answer

a. The molecule’s name is Ethanol and the structure is:

b. Yes, we can arrange the given atoms to make a different compound. The molecule’s name is methoxymethane and the structure is:

c. The molecules are drawn in (a) and (b) are isomers.

Step-by-step solution

Draw the structural formula of molecules and state its name.

The 3D structure of the molecule is drawn below:

The name of the structure is Ethanol.

Determine whether we can arrange these atoms in any way to form a different compound.

Yes, we can form another compound methoxymethane by arranging the two carbon, one oxygen, and six hydrogen atoms.

The 3D structure of the molecule is drawn below:

The name of the structure is Methoxymethane.

Determine the similarity and difference between the structure of Ethanol and Methoxymethane.

The compounds ethanol and methoxymethane are the isomers as they have the same empirical formula but different structural formulas.