Isomerism of alcohols

Alcohols exhibit following types of isomerism:

1. Chain isomerism

Alcohols containing   four or more carbon atoms exhibit this type of isomerism in which the isomers differ in the chain of carbon atoms attached to the hydroxyl group.

CH₃ — CH₂ — CH₂ — CH₂OH

Butan – 1 – ol

2. Position isomerism

Alcohols with three or more carbon atoms can exhibit position isomerism. In this type of isomerism the isomers differ in the position of hydroxyl group when carbon chain is same.

CH₃ — CH₂ — CH₂OH

       Propan -1- ol

3. Functional isomerism

Saturated monohydric alcohols having two or more carbon atoms show sunctional isomerism with ethers .

CH₃ CH₂ CH₂ CH₂OH

Butan -1- ol

CH₃ — CH₂ — O — CH₂CH₃

Ethoxyethane

4. Optical isomerism

Alcohols containing chiral centre exhibit enantiomerism or optical isomerism. The optical isomers can rotate the plane of plane polarized angles in different directions.

* represents an asymmetric carbon atom.