Isomer Definitions

Question 1

isomer

Answer 1

• same molecular formula
• cannot turn one into the other without breaking a covalent bond
• different names and chemical properties

Question 2

structural isomer

a.k.a. constitutional isomer

Answer 2

• same molecular formula
• atoms connected to each other in a different way
• different condensed formulas
• different names and chemical properties

Question 3

functional groups isomer

Answer 3

• same molecular formula
• type of structural isomer
• belong to different families
• names have different ending/ suffix

Question 4

branch chain isomer

Answer 4

• same molecular formula
• type of structural isomer
• different backbone and/or branches
• names have different name stem/ parent and/or different names of branches

Question 5

positional isomer

Answer 5

• same molecular formula
• type of structural isomer
• same backbone/ parent and same branches/functional groups
• branches/ functional groups are attached to different carbon atoms
• only the numbers in the names are different

Question 6

stereoisomer

Answer 6

• same molecular formula
• atoms are connected to each other in the same way
• atoms are arranged differently in 3D space
• would look same if squashed flat (no 3D)
• same condensed formula

Question 7

conformer

Answer 7

• same molecular formula
• atoms connected in the same way
• same molecule, only differ by rotation around single bonds
• same condensed structure
• same name