Question

What does metamerism mean?

Answer 1

1. Isomers are a group of two or more compounds that have a similar chemical formulas but different structural arrangements of atoms.
2. These compounds are called isomers and this phenomenon is called isomerism.
3. Isomerism is of two types: Structural isomerism and Stereoisomerism.
4. Metamerism is a type of structural isomerism.
5. Metamers are the type of isomers that have similar molecular formulas but different alkyl group or carbon group attached to the one end of functional group.
6. For example Diethyl ether and Methyl propyl ether both have the same molecular formula$C_4{H}_{10}O$but both the compounds differ in the alkyl group attached at the end.
7. The chemical formula of Diethyl ether is ${\mathrm{CH}}_3{\mathrm{CH}}_2{\mathrm{OCH}}_2{\mathrm{CH}}_3$whereas Methyl propyl ether is${\mathrm{CH}}_3{\mathrm{OCH}}_2{\mathrm{CH}}_2{\mathrm{CH}}_3$.
   
8. In Diethyl ether two Ethyl $\left({\mathrm{CH}}_3{\mathrm{CH}}_2\right)$groups are attached at the end whereas in the case of Methyl propyl ether one end is of Methyl$\mathbf{\left(}{\mathbf{CH}}_{\mathbf{3}}\mathbf{\right)}$ and the other is of Propyl$\mathbf{\left(}{\mathbf{CH}}_{\mathbf{3}}{\mathbf{CH}}_{\mathbf{2}}{\mathbf{CH}}_{\mathbf{3}}\mathbf{\right)}$.