How many structural isomers with the formula #C_4H_10O# are possible?

Answer 1

Christian Anderson

There are seven isomers.

The formula for butane is #"C"_4"H"_10#.

Thus, the formula #"C"_4"H"_10"O"# tells us that the compound is saturated, so it can be either an alcohol or an ether.

Isomeric alcohols

First, draw all the isomers of butane.

You get

Second, put an #"OH"# group on every carbon atom that does not give you a duplicate structure.

You get

Ethers

Draw the isomers of butane as before and put an #"O"# atom between every possible carbon that does not give a duplicate structure.

You get

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Answer 2

Isaac Aronson

For the formula C₄H₁₀O, there are three structural isomers possible:

Butan-1-ol (primary alcohol)
Butan-2-ol (secondary alcohol)
2-Methylpropan-1-ol (tertiary alcohol)

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Answer from HIX Tutor

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.