| | Columbia Encyclopedia- isomer - AOL Research & Learn |
 | | Among their different properties, ethanol has a boiling point of 78.5°C and a freezing point of -117°C; dimethyl ether has a boiling point of -25°C and a freezing point of -138°C. Ethanol and dimethyl ether are isomers because they differ in the way the atoms are joined together in their molecules:;g340;none;1;g340;;;block;;;;no;1;71808n;206902n;;;;;isomer340;;;left;stack;;;;; |
 | | In isobutane, CH3CH(CH3)2, the carbon atoms are joined in a branched chain; the isobutane molecule can be visualized as a carbon atom bonded to one hydrogen atom and to three methyl (CH3) groups. |
 | | For example, there are two geometric isomers of 2-butene, CH3CH⊇CHCH3:;g340A;none;1;g340A;;;block;;;;no;1;139392n;56775n;;;;;isomer340a;;;left;stack;;;;;The prefix cis- means same side and trans- means opposite side; they are used when the groups on either side of the double bond are identical or closely related, e.g., methyl and ethyl. |
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