Question

Differentiate between Long chain, Branched chain and ring chain of Carbon with the
help of one example.

Answer 1

Answer:

Chain, Branches and Rings

Carbon atoms forms compounds with different type arrangement, such as long chain, branched chain and cyclic chain structures.

Structural Isomers

Hydrocarbons having same molecular formula but different structural formula are called Structural Isomers.

Example:

Butane:

Molecular formula of hydrocarbon having four carbon atoms = C4H6

Name of this compound: Butane

Butane can have following two types of structural formula. This means four carbon atoms can be arranged in following two ways.

structural formula of butane

n–Butane

Name of this hydrocarbon is Butane or n–butane

structural formula of isobutane

Isobutane

Name of this hydrocarbon is Isobutane. In this one carbon atom is arranged as branched chain.

These two hydrocarbons n–butane and isobutene has same molecular formula but different structural formula and are called structural isomers.

Pentane:

Molecular Formula of pentane = C5H12

In pentane carbon atoms can arrange into three ways, first forming straight chain and second forming one side chain and third forming two side chains.

Straight chain of pentane

structural formula of pentane

n–pentane

Name of this hydrocarbon is n–pentane.

structural formula of isopentane

Isopentane

This hydrocarbon has also five carbon atoms. But one carbon atom is attached as branched chain.

Thus, name of this hydrocarbon is Iso–pentane or simply Isopentane.

structural formula of neopentane

neo–pentane

This hydrocarbon also has five carbon atoms but two carbon atoms are attached as branched chain. The name of this hydrocarbon is neo–pentane or simply neopentane.

Here, n–pentane, isopentane and neopentane are structural isomers having