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Gernald · Feb 4, 2009, 05:00 PM

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!

rwinterton · Feb 4, 2009, 05:32 PM

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.

Gernald · Feb 4, 2009, 07:19 PM

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!

rwinterton · Feb 4, 2009, 07:29 PM

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.