Ask Me Help Desk

Ask Me Help Desk (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/forum.php)
-   Chemistry (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/forumdisplay.php?f=68)
-   -   Finding isomers (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=313144)

  • Feb 4, 2009, 05:00 PM
    Gernald
    Finding isomers
    Hi,
    I was just wondering if someone could explain isomers to me, and how to find them. I have a test coming up and have no idea :eek:
    Like I have a problem in my book that says find the alkene isomers with the molecular formula of C5H10... where do I even start with this??

    I understand what an alkene is (a carbon carbon double bond with 2 r groups on each), but I don't understand the isomer stuff.

    I think 2-pentene is one of them but I have no idea how to check.

    Any help would be awesome!
  • Feb 4, 2009, 05:32 PM
    rwinterton

    Isomers are compounds with the same chemical formula, in your case C5H10, but different arrangements of atoms.

    CH2=CH-CH2-CH2-CH3 (1-pentene)
    CH3-CH=CH-CH2-CH3 (2-pentene)

    You can also have branches on the sides of a shorter chain.

    Don't get confused. CH3-CH2-CH2-CH=CH2 is still 1-pentene.

    etc.
  • Feb 4, 2009, 07:19 PM
    Gernald

    So 1-pentene is an alkene? Are these the only two ways it can be organized or are there more?

    Thanks so much for your help!
  • Feb 4, 2009, 07:29 PM
    rwinterton
    There is one more way that I can think of off the bat.

    The word "alkene" or "ene" means simply that there is a double-bond in the structure.

  • All times are GMT -7. The time now is 05:50 PM.