Isomerism

There are many compounds, which will be having varieties of physical and chemical properties, but will be having a same molecular formula. Such compounds are called ‘Isomers’ and the occurrence is called Isomerism in chemistry. Berzelius was the man who coined the term called ‘Isomers’. The arrangement of the atoms in the molecules of these compounds will be different and this is what leads to the variations in properties. There are two types of Isomerism basically.

Structural isomerism:

If there is some sort of difference in the atoms arrangement inside the molecules giving no importance to space, then such type of isomerism is called structural isomerism and the compounds are called structural isomers.

Hence, the structural formulae of these compounds will be differing although their molecular formulae will be the same. There are quite a few types of structural isomerism as well. They are like skeleton, nuclear or chain isomerism, Tautomerism, Metamerism, Functional isomerism and Position Isomerism.

Geometric Isomerism:

Geometric isomerism is the second type of isomerism. What make the compounds different here are the variations in the spatial arrangement although the covalent partnership of these compounds is absolutely same. The reason why these types of isomers will occur is due to the inflexibility found in single or double bonds.

Enantiomers:

Enantiomers are the third type of isomers. This type of isomers will be the mirror images of one and other. Usually, these isomers will be having stick or ball figures. There will be a carbon atom in the middle of these isomers and these carbon atoms are called as asymmetric carbon items. The reason is that they will be well attached to four atoms groups, which are entirely different. Since the isomers here will be mirror images, you can witness both left handed as well as right handed version of the carbon atoms.

Questions:

• What are the different types of Isomers?
• What are enantiomers?