Question

How many possible structural isomers have the molecular formula C₅H₁₂? Draw them all.

You may look up the generic formula for a primary alcohol, which would be given to you on Midterm 2. You will need to memorize it for the final exam

Answer 1

There are three possible structural isomers for the molecular formula C5H12: n-pentane, isopentane, and neopentane.

Step-by-step explanation:

When determining the number of isomers for a given molecular formula, we need to consider the number of chiral centers. However, since the formula C5H12 does not have any chiral centers, we can consider the potential isomers based on the different possible arrangements of carbon atoms and bonds.

In this case, the molecular formula C5H12 represents an alkane, which is a saturated hydrocarbon with single bonds between carbon atoms. The possible structural isomers for C5H12 are:

1. n-pentane: CH3CH2CH2CH2CH3
2. isopentane: CH3CH(CH3)CH2CH3
3. neopentane: (CH3)4C

These three isomers represent different arrangements of carbon atoms and bonds, resulting in different structures.