Question

Why are there no isomers of propane?

Answer 1

1. Isomers are defined as those species which possess similar chemical formulas but different structural formulas.
2. Propane is a hydrocarbon with chemical formula ${\mathrm{C}}_3{\mathrm{H}}_8$ and is represented as follows:
   
3. From the structure, we can say that each carbon molecule must have four bonds.
4. Therefore, the center carbon, which is already pointed to, has carbon bonds to hydrogen.
5. The outer carbons, which of them are already bonded to one carbon, each bond to three hydrogens.
6. Because hydrogen can form one bond, the hydrogen can not be placed between two carbon atoms.
7. They must be on the outside of the carbon atoms.
8. Therefore, we can say that propane has no isomers.
9. There is only one possible structure of propane, which is shown in the above diagram.
10. So we can say that due to the insufficient number of carbon atoms in propane, it is not possible for propane to exist in a branched isomer state.

Therefore, there are no such isomers possible for propane.