Question

Observe the structural formulae (a) and (b). 

i. Find out their molecular formulae. 

ii. What is the difference between them?

 iii. What is the relation between the two compounds represented by these structural formulae?

Answer 1

i. Molecular formula of both (a) and (b) are same i.e., C₃H₆O.

ii. Compound (a), has a ketone (-CO-) functional group (i.e., acetone) and compound.

(b) has an aldehyde (-CHO) functional group (i.e., propionaldehyde). Both the compounds have different functional groups.

iii. Compound (a) and (b) are isomers of each other.

[Note : Aldehydes and ketones are the functional group isomers of each other.]