Question

Write the structural formula of the two isomers with the molecular formula $ {C_4}{H_8}O $ to illustrate functional group isomerism?

Answer 1

Hint: There can be several structures drawn with the same molecular formula. With the formula $ {C_4}{H_8}O $ also you can draw aliphatic as well as cyclic structures. In functional group isomers, the molecular formula will be the same but the functional group will be different. There will be one double bond present in both structures. First, write four carbons then add a double bond, and finally add the hydrogens. Lastly, check the number of elements with the molecular formula.

Complete Step By Step Answer:
Functional group isomerism takes place when substances have the same molecular formula but different functional groups.
The molecular formula given is $ {C_4}{H_8}O $ . And with this molecular formula, we should find out two isomers having different functional groups.
In the molecular formula, there are four carbons present with eight hydrogens and one oxygen. This can be said that there will be at least one double bond present in the structure. The double bond can either be between $ C $ and $ O $ $ \left( {C = O} \right) $ or between two carbons $ \left( {C = C} \right) $ . For simplicity what can be done is just write four carbons in a single chain then add a double bond and then finally add hydrogens to complete the valency of carbon.
The two isomers that we found out with the molecular formula $ {C_4}{H_8}O $ are:

Butanal and But $ - 2 - $ en $ - 1 - $ ol are the two isomers. The functional group in Butanal is an aldehyde and in But $ - 2 - $ en $ - 1 - $ ol is alcohol. Both the functional groups are different. Hence these two structures are functional group isomers having the same molecular formula but different functional groups.

Note:
There can be many more structures drawn here using the molecular formula $ {C_4}{H_8}O $ . They can be cyclic also. The functional group isomerism is a type of structural isomerism where the molecular formula of the compounds is the same but the structures are different. There are many other types of structural isomerism such as position isomerism, chain isomerism, metamerism, tautomerism, and ring isomerism.