How many structural isomers with the formula #C_4H_10O# are possible?

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Answer 1 · 2018-05-01T22:45:16

There are seven isomers.

The formula for butane is #"C"_4"H"_10#.

Thus, the formula #"C"_4"H"_10"O"# tells us that the compound is saturated, so it can be either an alcohol or an ether.

Isomeric alcohols

First, draw all the isomers of butane.

You get

Butanes
#color(white)(mm)"butane"color(white)(mmm)"and"color(white)(mm)"isobutane"#

Second, put an #"OH"# group on every carbon atom that does not give you a duplicate structure.

You get

Alcohols
#color(white)(mm)"butan-1-ol" color(white)(mmm)"butan-2-ol" color(white)(m)"2-methylpropan-1-ol"color(white)(m)"2-methylpropan-2-ol"#

Ethers

Draw the isomers of butane as before and put an #"O"# atom between every possible carbon that does not give a duplicate structure.

You get

Ethers
#"methyl propyl ether"color(white)(mmmmmmm)"diethyl ether"color(white)(mm)"isopropyl methyl ether"#