Structural isomer

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Structural isomerism, or constitutional isomerism, is a form of isomerism in which molecules with the same molecular formula have atoms bonded together in different orders, as opposed to stereoisomerism.

Three categories of constitutional isomers are skeletal, positional, and functional isomers.

In skeletal isomerism, or chain isomerism, components of the (usually carbon) skeleton are distinctly re-ordered to create different structures. For example 3-methylpentane is a chain isomer of 2-methylpentane. Pentane exists as three isomers: n-pentane, isopentane and neopentane. The number of skeletal isomers of an n-carbon alkane is documented at A000602.

In position isomerism a functional group changes position on the chain. In the diagram, pentan-2-ol has become pentan-3-ol. Many aromatic isomers exist because substituents can be positioned on different parts of the benzene ring. Only one isomer of phenol or hydroxybenzene exists but cresol or methylphenol has three isomers where the additional methyl group can be placed on three different positions on the ring. Xylenol has one hydroxyl group and two methyl groups and a total of 6 isomers exist.

In functional group isomerism a functional group splits up and becomes a different group. Here is an example of functional group isomerism: take cyclohexane, C₆H₁₂ and hex-1-ene, also C₆H₁₂. These two are considered functional group isomers because cyclohexane is an alkane and hex-1-ene is an alkene. Both must have the same molecular formula.