U1L6b - Structural Isomers copy · Structural Isomer - molecule with same molecular formula but...
Transcript of U1L6b - Structural Isomers copy · Structural Isomer - molecule with same molecular formula but...
Structural isomers
✴ Structural Isomer - molecule with same molecular formula but with different arrangement of atoms✴ Differences in shape of isomers leads to differences in their physical and chemical properties
Structural Isomers
✴ For example, glucose, galactose and fructose have same molecular formula (C6H12O6) but different structures
glucose galactose fructose
dissolve
d in water
glucose
β-glucose
α-glucose
dissolved in water
✴ In dry state, glucose has linear structure, but when dissolved in water, molecule folds on itself to form one of two possible ring structures:
✴ Glucose itself has 3 different structural isomersI
✴ Small structural difference leads to large difference in chemical properties
✴ Two isomers of glucose differ only in orientation of a single hydroxyl (-OH) group
dissolve
d in water
glucose
β-glucose
α-glucose
dissolved in water
✴ Starch found in mushrooms (amylopectin) is a polymer of α-glucose - can be easily digested
starch - digestible
✴ Cellulose (found in celery) is a polymer of β-glucose - can’t be digested by most animals
cellulose - not digestible
✴ Isomers illustrate that structure of a molecule determines function of that molecule
Structure = Function