“Compounds having the same molecular formula but different structures (manners in which atoms are linked) are classified as structural isomers” and are said to exhibit Structural Isomerism.
Example of structural isomer
represents three compounds as follows:-
Types of structural isomerism
Chain isomerism: -Chain isomers are two or more compounds that have similar molecular formulae but distinct carbon skeletons, and the process is known as chain isomerism.
Position isomerism:-Position isomers are compounds that differ in the position of a substituent atom or functional group on the carbon skeleton, and this phenomenon is known as position isomerism.
Functional group isomerism:-Functional isomers are two or more compounds with the same molecular formula but distinct functional groups, and this phenomenon is known as functional group isomerism.
Metamerism:-It arises due to different alkyl chains on either side of the functional group in the molecule.
Tautomerism:-It is a phenomenon where a single chemical compound tends to exist in two or more interconvertible structures that are different in terms of the relative position of one atomic nucleus which is generally the hydrogen.
