Creative Chemistry Molecular Models

Chain Isomerism

What is it?

Chain isomerism occurs when the way carbon atoms are linked together is different from compound to compound. It is an example of structural isomerism, and is also called nuclear isomerism. Chain isomerism is the type of isomerism you meet in GCSE Chemistry - see the isomers of hexane. You also meet it again in AS/A Level Chemistry.

What is here?

I have put models of the chain isomers of pentane here. I have chosen these because they are typical of the sort of molecules you meet in GCSE and at AS/A Level. You should be prepared to work out chain isomers for simple hydrocarbons like these for your examinations, and you also need to be able to name the them at AS/A Level. You can see:

The models are ball-and-stick, but you can right click to get a menu of options, such as animations and changing to space-filling models. You can also move the models using the left mouse button.
 

Molecular modelling applet courtesy of ChemAxon Ltd

(YOU CANNOT SEE A JAVA APPLET HERE)