What are the pair of condensed formulas that represent constitutional (structural) isomers?
Constitutional (structural) isomers are organic compounds that have the same molecular formula but different structural arrangements of atoms. The pair of condensed formulas that represent constitutional isomers are C3H6O and C4H8O. These two formulas represent different compounds with the same molecular formula but different structural arrangements.
Understanding Constitutional Isomers
Constitutional (structural) isomers are organic compounds that have the same molecular formula but different structural arrangements of atoms. This means that these isomers have the same number of atoms of each element, but the atoms are connected in different ways within the molecule.
Example of Constitutional Isomers
One example of constitutional isomers is C3H6O and C4H8O. In the first formula, C3H6O, one possible structural arrangement is propanal (CH3CH2CHO), which contains a three-carbon chain with an aldehyde functional group (-CHO) at the end. In the second formula, C4H8O, a possible structural isomer is butanal (CH3CH2CH2CHO), which consists of a four-carbon chain with an aldehyde functional group.
Comparison of Structural Formulas
By comparing the structural formulas of the compounds represented by C3H6O and C4H8O, we can observe that they have different arrangements of carbon atoms, resulting in different isomers. This concept highlights the idea of constitutional isomerism.
Identifying Constitutional Isomers
To identify the pair of condensed formulas that represent constitutional isomers, one must draw the structural formula for each molecule and compare their structures. By analyzing how the carbon atoms are connected within the molecule, one can distinguish between different constitutional isomers.
For further information on constitutional isomers and how to differentiate between them, you can refer to additional resources such as textbooks or online sources.