why is C4H10 the simplest alkane that can have structural isomers?
Draw a chain with less than 4 and see if you can arrange them (for example 3 carbon chain) in a different way. You can't.
C4H10, also known as butane, is the simplest alkane that can have structural isomers due to its molecular formula and the arrangement of its carbon atoms. To understand why, let's break it down.
An alkane is a type of hydrocarbon that consists of only hydrogen (H) and carbon (C) atoms, with single bonds between each carbon atom. The molecular formula for butane, C4H10, tells us that it consists of 4 carbon atoms and 10 hydrogen atoms.
Now let's consider the arrangement of the carbon atoms in butane. The carbon atoms in butane can form a continuous chain or a branched structure.
In the case of a continuous chain, the four carbon atoms can be arranged in a straight line, resulting in a linear structure. This is known as n-butane (also referred to as normal butane) and is the most common form of butane.
However, butane can also have structural isomers by forming a branched structure. In this case, the carbon atoms are arranged in a way that one or more additional carbon atoms are attached to a central carbon atom, forming branches. This is known as isobutane or 2-methylpropane. Isobutane has the same molecular formula (C4H10) as butane, but the arrangement of its carbon atoms is different.
In summary, the molecular formula C4H10 allows for the possibility of structural isomers because it can accommodate both linear and branched arrangements of four carbon atoms.