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International Edexcel AS chemistry
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Topic 4: introductory organic chemistryThe fundamentals2 Topics
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Functional groups and homologous series2 Topics
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Nomenclature2 Topics
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Structural isomerism2 Topics
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Types of reaction2 Topics
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Substitution reactions2 Topics
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Hazards, risks and risk assessments
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Alkanes from crude oil1 Topic
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Alkanes as fuels1 Topic
Lesson 4, Topic 1
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What are isomers?
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There are 3 different types of structural isomer:
1. Chain isomers

The carbon skeleton can be arranged differently – for example, as a straight chain, or branched in different ways
These isomers have similar chemical properties but their physical properties, like boiling point will be different because of the change in shape of the molecule
2. Positional isomers
The skeleton and the functional group could be the same, only with the functional group attached to a different carbon atom
These also have different physical properties and the chemical properties might be different too

3. Functional group isomers
The same atoms can be arranged into different functional groups
These have very different physical and chemical properties
