Isomerism in chemistry is the phenomenon where compounds with identical molecular formulas exhibit different arrangements of atoms, leading to diverse physical and chemical properties. It includes structural isomerism, with subtypes such as chain, positional, and functional group isomerism, and stereoisomerism, which encompasses geometric and optical isomerism. Understanding isomerism is crucial for advancements in chemical synthesis, pharmaceuticals, and biochemistry.
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Isomerism refers to the existence of compounds with the same molecular formula but different arrangements of atoms
Isomers are like anagrams in linguistics, where the same set of letters can be rearranged to create different words
Isomerism is classified into structural and stereoisomerism, with each category further divided into several types
Structural isomerism occurs when compounds have the same molecular formula but different arrangements of atoms, such as butane and isobutane
Chain isomerism
Chain isomerism involves different arrangements of the carbon skeleton, such as linear and branched structures
Positional isomerism
Positional isomerism arises from the different locations of functional groups on the same carbon skeleton
Functional group isomerism
Functional group isomerism occurs when compounds with the same formula have different functional groups, resulting in molecules that belong to different classes of compounds
Stereoisomerism refers to isomers with the same molecular and structural formulas but different three-dimensional orientations, such as geometric and optical isomers
Geometric isomerism
Geometric isomerism occurs in compounds with restricted rotation around a bond, leading to different spatial arrangements of substituent groups
Optical isomerism
Optical isomerism involves molecules that are mirror images of each other but cannot be superimposed, known as enantiomers
Isomerism affects the properties of molecules, including reactivity, boiling and melting points, and biological activity
A thorough understanding of isomerism is crucial in various fields, such as material synthesis, pharmaceutical development, and biochemical research
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Types of Isomerism
Structural isomerism and stereoisomerism are the two primary types.
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Structural Isomerism Definition
Isomers with same molecular formula but different connectivity of atoms.
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Stereoisomerism Definition
Isomers with same molecular formula and atom connectivity but different spatial orientation.
