I am currently working on drawing isomers and find that I become way too creative in my structures. It would be helpful to know how many I should come up with...

All isomers of C5H10O that contain a carbonyl group. I am looking for a number/count of them.

Thanks is advance!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C5H10O

To determine the number of isomers of C5H10O that contain a carbonyl group, we can follow a step-by-step process:

Step 1: Identify the possible structural isomers
The general formula of C5H10O suggests that there are five carbon atoms, ten hydrogen atoms, and one oxygen atom in the molecule. We need to consider the different ways these atoms can be arranged to form various structures.

Step 2: Locate the carbonyl group
A carbonyl group consists of a carbon atom double bonded to an oxygen atom (C=O). In each isomer you consider, make sure you have a carbonyl group present.

Step 3: Enumerate the isomers systematically
To avoid being too creative and ensure we don't miss any possibilities, we will use a systematic method to enumerate the isomers. Here's one way to approach it:

Start with the simplest structure, which is a straight chain of five carbon atoms (pentane). In this case, the carbonyl group can be located either at the beginning, middle, or end of the chain.

1. Pentan-1-one (CH3CH2CH2CH2COCH3) - carbonyl group at the beginning of the chain
2. Pentan-2-one (CH3CH2CH=CH2COCH3) - carbonyl group in the second position of the chain
3. Pentan-3-one (CH3CH=CHCH2COCH3) - carbonyl group in the third position of the chain
4. Pentan-4-one (CH3C(=O)CH2CH2CH3) - carbonyl group in the fourth position of the chain
5. Pentan-5-one (C(=O)CH2CH2CH2CH3) - carbonyl group at the end of the chain

Step 4: Count the number of isomers
After following the systematic approach, we have found five isomers of C5H10O that contain a carbonyl group. Therefore, the count is five.

By following this systematic method, you can ensure you consider all possible isomers while drawing molecular structures.