isomerscompounds

Isomers are chemical compounds that have the same molecular formula but differ in the structural arrangement of their atoms. This means they contain the same number and types of atoms, but these atoms are connected or oriented in space differently. The concept of isomerism is fundamental in organic chemistry, as even minor changes in atomic arrangement can lead to vastly different physical and chemical properties.

There are several types of isomerism. Structural isomerism, also known as constitutional isomerism, involves differences in the bonding sequence of atoms. For example, butane and isobutane are structural isomers, both with the formula C4H10, but with different carbon backbones. Stereoisomerism, on the other hand, involves compounds with the same bonding sequence but different spatial arrangements of atoms. This category includes enantiomers, which are non-superimposable mirror images of each other, and diastereomers, which are stereoisomers that are not enantiomers. Geometric isomerism, a subtype of diastereomerism, occurs in molecules with restricted rotation around a double bond or within a ring, leading to different orientations of substituents. Understanding isomers is crucial for predicting and explaining the behavior of chemical substances in various applications, from pharmaceuticals to materials science.