ISOMERISM H Side chain :

1 C atom
H-C-H

H-C-H

H-C-H
Side chain :
H
2 C atom

Straight chain Branched-chain

alkane molecule alkane molecule (2 branches)
ISOMERISME

 Isomerisme – The ability of

carbon atoms to form
branched chains forming
molecules (isomers) with the
same molecular formula but
different structural formulae.
 ISOMERS

 Isomers – are molecules with

the same molecular formula
but with different structural
formulae.
 ISOMERS OF ALKANES
1 2
H
HHHH H-C-H
H H
H-C-C-C-C-H
H-C-C-C-H
HHHH
HHH

Straight-chain molecule Branched-chain molecule

C4H10 has 2 isomers

 ISOMERS OF ALKENES
1 2 3
HHHH HHHH H
H-C-H
H-C=C-C-C-H H-C-C=C-C-H H H
HH H H H-C=C-C-H
H

Straight-chain molecule – Branched-chain

Different positioning of molecule
double bond

C4H8 has 3 isomers

HOW TO NAME ISOMERS
 1.Find the longest continuous carbon chain in
the molecule.
 2.Give the name for this longest chain.
 3.Identify the branch (alkyl group) in the
molecule.
 4.Locate and name the attached alkyl group.
 5.Combine the name for the longest C chain
with the name of branch chain.
 ALKYL GROUP
 Branch / alkyl group – is an alkane from
which one hydrogen atom has been removed.
 Alkyl group are named by dropping
–ane from the name of the corresponding
alkane and replacing it with –yl.

C C
-H
H-C-H H-C-H
C
Methane Methyl group
 NAMING ALKYL GROUP
Alkane Alkyl group

Name Molecular Name Molecular

formula formula
Methane CH4 Methyl CH3

Ethane C2H6 Ethyl C2H5

Propane C3H8 Propyl C3H7

Butane C4H10 Butyl C4H9

Pentane C5H12 Pentyl C5H11

 NAMING ISOMERS OF
ALKANE

H
H-C-H Step 1 :
H H H
Find the longest
H- C- C- C- C- H continuous
carbon chain
H H H H in the molecule
 NAMING ISOMERS OF
ALKANE

H Step 2 :
H-C-H
H H H Give the name
for this
H- C- C- C- C- H longest chain.

H H H H
butane
 NAMING ISOMERS OF
ALKANE
Alkyl group

H Step 3 :
H-C-H
Number the C atoms in
H H H
this longest chain
H- C- C- C- C- H beginning at the
4 3 2 1 end nearest to the
H H H H first branch
(alkyl group)
 NAMING ISOMERS OF
ALKANE
methyl
Step 4 :
H Locate and name the
H-C-H attached alkyl groups.
H H H The position of each
alkyl group is given
the number of the
H- C- C- C- C- H C atom to which it is
4 3 2 1
attached on the chain.
H H H H
2-methyl

location of methyl
 NAMING ISOMERS OF
ALKANE
methyl
Step 5 :

H Complete the name

H-C-H for the molecule by
combining the 3 component
H H H parts together. Write the
name as a single word.
Use hyphens to
H- C- C- C- C- H separate numbers and
4 3 2 1 words & commas to
separate numbers.
H H H H
2-methylbutane
 NAMING ISOMERS OF
ALKENE

H Step 1 :
H-C-H
Find the longest
H H H
continuous
H- C- C= C- C- H carbon chain
in the molecule
H H including
double bond.
 NAMING ISOMERS OF
ALKENE
Step 2 :
H
Number the C atoms in
H-C-H this longest chain
H H H beginning at the
end nearest to the
H- C- C= C- C- H double bond.
4 3 2 1 (not nearest to the
H H first branch/
alkyl group)
 NAMING ISOMERS OF
ALKENE

Step 3 :
H
H-C-H Give the name
H H H for this
longest chain.
H- C- C= C- C- H
4 3 2 1
H H
but-2-ene
 NAMING ISOMERS OF
ALKENE
methyl
Step 4 :
H Locate and name the
H-C-H attached alkyl groups.
H H H The position of each
alkyl group is given
the number of the
H- C- C= C- C- H C atom to which it is
4 3 2 1
attached on the chain.
H H
2-methyl
 NAMING ISOMERS OF
ALKENE
methyl
Step 5 :
H
H-C-H Complete the name
for the molecule by
H H H combining the name
longest chain
H- C- C= C- C- H and the name
4 3 2 1 branch chain.
H H
2-methylbut-2-ene
WORKSHEET 3
 1a) pent-2-ene
 b) 2-methylbut-1-ene
 c) 2-methylbut-2-ene
 2 a) 2-methylbutane

H H H H
H- C - C- C- C- H
H H H
H-C-H
H
 2(b) 3-methylbut-1-ene
H H H H
H- C = C- C- C- H
H
H-C-H
H

 c) 2,3-dimethylhept-3-ene
H
H-C- H
H H H H H H
H- C – C- C= C- C- C- C-H
H H H H
H-C-H
H
 d) 1,2-dibromobutane
H H H H
H- C - C- C- C- H
Br Br H H

 3) 2,2-dimethylpropane
 a) b) 3 isomers
H
H-C- H
H H
H- C- C- C-H
H H
H-C-H
H