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Question: How many isomers of \( {C_3}{H_4} \) are possible?...

How many isomers of C3H4{C_3}{H_4} are possible?

Explanation

Solution

Molecules having the same molecular formula but have different molecular geometries are known as isomers. It is not necessary that isomers share the same chemical or physical properties. Structural isomerism and stereoisomerism are two types of isomerism, this is further divided into subtypes like geometric, optical stereoisomerism and chain, position, functional, and many more structural isomerism.

Complete Step By Step Answer:
Propyne (an alkyne) has the chemical formula CH3CCHC{H_3}C \equiv CH and the Degree of unsaturation of C3H4{C_3}{H_4} is 2.
Degree of unsaturation =2×Number of carbon atom + 2 + Number of halogens - Number of hydrogen2= \dfrac{{2 \times Number{\text{ of carbon atom + 2 + }}Number{\text{ of halogens - Number of hydrogen}}}}{2}
The degree of unsaturation suggests that the isomers will have a 2π2\pi bond and presence of a ring with at least 1π1\pi bond.
So there are 33 possible isomers of C3H4{C_3}{H_4} and they are Prop-1-yne, prop-1,2-diene, and cyclopropene.

Additional Information:
Chirality is based on the number of groups attached to a carbon atom. The nature of groups i.e. whether it is similar or different is taken into consideration. Chirality is also influenced by the ability to superimpose.
Achiral molecules have a plane of symmetry. If the compounds have mirror images, they are not identical to each other; they are called enantiomers.

Note:
Molecules having the same molecular formula but differ by atoms or bonds are called structural isomers or constitutional isomers but isomers having a difference in the orientation of atoms in space are stereoisomers. Stereoisomers are of two types Geometrical isomer and optical isomer.
Optical isomers also known as Enantiomers are a pair of stereoisomers, related to each other as they are mirror images of each other and are non-superposable. Stereoisomers that are not related through reflection operation are Diastereomers.