Hint: Isomers that have the same molecular formula but differ in the arrangement of carbon atoms in the chain are known as chain isomers. Chain isomerism occurs in compounds that contain more than two carbon atoms.
Complete Solution :
The question asks to draw the chain isomers of hexane.
The molecular formula of hexane is C6H14.
This means hexane consists of six carbon atoms and fourteen hydrogen atoms.
The possible chain isomer structures for hexane, with the molecular formula C6H14, are as follows.
- Based on the structures above, we can conclude that hexane has five possible isomers.
- The five hexane isomers include n-hexane, 2-methylpentane, 3-methylpentane, 2,3-dimethylbutane, and 2,2-dimethylbutane.
- 2-methylpentane is also known as Isohexane.
- 2,2-dimethylbutane is also called Neohexane.
- These five isomers are classified as constitutional isomers since each structure has the same number of carbon and hydrogen atoms.
- All five structures share the same molecular formula but differ in the arrangement of carbon atoms in the main chain.
Note: The possible arrangements of carbon atoms in the main chain create the isomers of a compound. Chain isomers share the same molecular formula but differ in how the carbon atoms are organized within the chain.
