How do you determine the number of structural isomers?

1 Answer
anor277
Mar 2, 2017

#"How else but by trial and error.......??"#

Explanation:

#"Butane can support 2 structural isomers."#

#"Pentane"# can support 3 structural isomers.

#"Hexane"# can support 5 structural isomers.

#"Heptane"# can support 9 structural isomers.

Even as an undergraduate, you would not be expected to know and represent all the structural isomers of hexane. You would be expected to be able to name a given isomer, and so differentiate between identical structures and isomers of a given formula.

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