Question

Dimethyl ether and ethyl alcohol are

• A. metamers
• B. chain isomers
• C. position isomers
• D. functional isomers

Answer 1

The correct option is D

functional isomers

Correct option explanation

(D) Functional isomers: Functional isomers refer to the compounds that have the same chemical formula but different functional groups attached to them.

Chemical formula for both dimethyl ether and ethyl alcohol is C₂H₆O , but functional group in dimethyl ether is ether (R-O-R) and ethyl alchol have alcohol (-OH) .

Incorrect option explanation

(A) Metamers : Compounds having the same molecular formula but different alkyl groups on either side of functional groups are called Metamerism.

• Example: C₄H₁₀O can be represented as ethoxyethane (C₂H₅OC₂H₅) and methoxy-propane (CH₃OC₃H₇).

(B) Chain isomers : Chain isomers are molecules with the same molecular formula but different arrangements of the carbon ‘skeleton’. For example, oct−1−ene (straight-chain) and 3−methylhept−1−ene (branched chain) are chain isomers.

(C) Position isomers : Positional isomers are isomers with the same carbon skeleton and will have the same functional group. They differ from each other in the position of the functional groups on the carbon chain. For example, compound having the formula C₃H₇Cl.

Since, the chemical formula of both compounds is the same and functional groups are different, therefore, option (D) functional group is the correct option.