BM Isomerism Tutorial

Isomers are compounds that:

• Have the same molecular formula but different structures

• Have different molecular formulas but same structure

• Are always mirror images

• Differ only in molecular weight

Isomerism that arises out of the difference in spatial arrangement of atoms or groups about the doubly bonded carbon atoms are called?

• Structural Isomerism

• Stereoisomerism

• Geometrical Isomerism

• Optical Isomerism

Provide an example of structural isomerism.

• Ethane and propane

• Butane and isobutane

• Methane and ethane

• Butane and pentane

Which of the followings are a pair of enantiomers?

• Glucose and fructose

• Cis and trans- butene

• D- and L- glutamic acid

• α- and β-glucose

Why is glycine not optically active?

• It has two identical hydrogen atoms on the α-carbon

• It has no carboxyl group

• It lacks an amino group

• It cannot form peptide bonds