I don't think there are any mathematical formulas that will tell you how many isomers a particular compound has, even for the simple straight chain compounds.
There may be some hints on this page.
http://www.ehow.com/how_6931563_calculate-number-isomers.html
1 or 2 or 3 carbon straight chains have no isomers. 4C has 1, 5C has 3 and those are relatively easy to draw. Even six is not much of a problem. It gets harder above that. Then naming is not a problem Just follow the naming rules.
Determining and naming the unique isomers of a hydrocarbon? Please help!?
Hey all. I am studying a petroleum fluids class and am having difficulty in understanding one topic. Specifically, in some cases we are asked to draw and name the unique isomers of a certain compound. For example C5H12: Pentane. I know based on the book there are 3 unique isomers. However for the other alkanes from 1-10 how do I go about naming and drawing them and determining the number of UNIQUE isomers! Is it just something I will have to memorize? Can someone help exam is monday and I am trying to get prepared!
3 answers
So for methane through decane determining and drawing the isomers should be straight forward? Im just unsure as how to determine what makes them unique and if the structure and such matter in terms of location. If that makes any sense haha...Thanks for responding by the way
1 -butene and 2-butene
1 answer