P4 - Explain the different types of structural isomerism and stereoisomerism.
Explain structural isomerism and the different types that exist (i.e. chain, positional and functional group).
Give at least two examples of each type, including structural formulae and photographs of 3D models.
Explain stereoisomerism and the different types that exist (i.e. geometric - include cis and trans (Z and E)
stereoisomers of unsaturated fatty acids e.g. oleic acid and elaidic acid and optical - amino acids (e.g. L-
alanine and D-alanine), sugars (e.g. glucose and galactose) and starch with cellulose).
Give simple and naturally occurring examples of each type to illustrate your explanations, including
structural formulae and photographs of 3D models of stereoisomers. For geometric stereoisomerism,
Compare different isomers of the same molecular formula, considering any difference in physical or
chemical properties that exist.
Isomers these are molecules that tend to have the same molecular formula but has different arrangement of
the atoms and for structural isomers these atoms tend to be arranged in a different order, there are different
types for this structural isomerism: Chain isomerism: hence for this isomer due to branching of carbon
chains, where there tends to be two isomers where there is straight and branched of that of butane, C 4H10 and
pentane C5H12, since it has three chain isomers
Position isomerism
The carbon for the body of it remains unchanged, however for essential groups they tend to be moved around
the body, for this instance there are two structural isomers that have the molecular formula C 3H7Br, in this
instance as the diagram shows the bromine atom is attached near the end and for the second its in the middle.
If it was needed to break off the bromine atom and then reattach it in the middle and this can be done for
hydrogen too.
Then are the alcohols like C4H9OH
Unit 14: Applications of Organic Chemistry Page 1 of 7
, There are two possibilities as shown below of the four-carbon chain and are open to both chain and position
isomers.
There are also position isomers with benzene rings and tend to have the molecular formula of C 7H7Cl, since
there are miscellaneous isomers that tends to depend on the positioning of the chlorine atom and tends to be
attached the side-group carbon atom and side-group carbon atoms and in the sense of three positions it tends
to have around the ring and the CH3 group, it can be next to it or switched sides.
Functional group isomerism
The isomers tend to have different functional groups that tend to belong to the different compounds or
homologous series, in this sense of that of the molecular formula C 3H6O and it can be propanal (aldehyde) or
propanone (ketone). In this sense that there are same molecular formula and have the carbon-carbon double
bond of the alkene and the -OH group (alcohol) that tends to be in the same molecule CH 2=CH-CH2-OH.
Then there is the molecular formula of C3H6O2 and the different structural isomers of the propanoic acid
(carboxylic acid and the methyl ethanoate an ester).
Unit 14: Applications of Organic Chemistry Page 2 of 7
Explain structural isomerism and the different types that exist (i.e. chain, positional and functional group).
Give at least two examples of each type, including structural formulae and photographs of 3D models.
Explain stereoisomerism and the different types that exist (i.e. geometric - include cis and trans (Z and E)
stereoisomers of unsaturated fatty acids e.g. oleic acid and elaidic acid and optical - amino acids (e.g. L-
alanine and D-alanine), sugars (e.g. glucose and galactose) and starch with cellulose).
Give simple and naturally occurring examples of each type to illustrate your explanations, including
structural formulae and photographs of 3D models of stereoisomers. For geometric stereoisomerism,
Compare different isomers of the same molecular formula, considering any difference in physical or
chemical properties that exist.
Isomers these are molecules that tend to have the same molecular formula but has different arrangement of
the atoms and for structural isomers these atoms tend to be arranged in a different order, there are different
types for this structural isomerism: Chain isomerism: hence for this isomer due to branching of carbon
chains, where there tends to be two isomers where there is straight and branched of that of butane, C 4H10 and
pentane C5H12, since it has three chain isomers
Position isomerism
The carbon for the body of it remains unchanged, however for essential groups they tend to be moved around
the body, for this instance there are two structural isomers that have the molecular formula C 3H7Br, in this
instance as the diagram shows the bromine atom is attached near the end and for the second its in the middle.
If it was needed to break off the bromine atom and then reattach it in the middle and this can be done for
hydrogen too.
Then are the alcohols like C4H9OH
Unit 14: Applications of Organic Chemistry Page 1 of 7
, There are two possibilities as shown below of the four-carbon chain and are open to both chain and position
isomers.
There are also position isomers with benzene rings and tend to have the molecular formula of C 7H7Cl, since
there are miscellaneous isomers that tends to depend on the positioning of the chlorine atom and tends to be
attached the side-group carbon atom and side-group carbon atoms and in the sense of three positions it tends
to have around the ring and the CH3 group, it can be next to it or switched sides.
Functional group isomerism
The isomers tend to have different functional groups that tend to belong to the different compounds or
homologous series, in this sense of that of the molecular formula C 3H6O and it can be propanal (aldehyde) or
propanone (ketone). In this sense that there are same molecular formula and have the carbon-carbon double
bond of the alkene and the -OH group (alcohol) that tends to be in the same molecule CH 2=CH-CH2-OH.
Then there is the molecular formula of C3H6O2 and the different structural isomers of the propanoic acid
(carboxylic acid and the methyl ethanoate an ester).
Unit 14: Applications of Organic Chemistry Page 2 of 7
