Final answer:
C4H10 has two isomers: n-Butane (CH3CH2CH2CH3) with a linear structure and isobutane ((CH3)3CH) with a branched structure. Both have tetrahedral molecular geometry at each carbon atom with different connections.
Step-by-step explanation:
The molecular formula C4H10 represents alkanes that can have different structures, known as isomers. There are two isomers for this molecular formula:
- n-Butane: CH3CH2CH2CH3
- Isobutane (or methylpropane): (CH3)3CH
The structural formulas differ in how the carbon atoms are connected, changing the physical properties of each compound even though their molecular formulas are the same. For n-butane, all four carbon atoms are connected in a straight chain, giving it a linear structure, while isobutane has a branched structure with three carbon atoms connected to a central carbon atom. The molecular geometry at each carbon atom for n-butane is tetrahedral, as each carbon is bonded to either three hydrogen atoms and one carbon atom, or two hydrogen atoms and two other carbon atoms. In isobutane, the central carbon is also tetrahedral, as it is bonded to one hydrogen atom and three methyl groups (CH3).