Question Details

The compound which shows metamerism is :

Options

A

C3H8O

B

C3H6O

C

C4H10O

D

C5H12O

Show Answer

Correct Answer :

Option C

C4H10O

C4H10O

Solution :

The correct option is C4H10O.

Metamerism is a type of structural isomerism that arises due to the presence of different alkyl chains (unequal distribution of carbon atoms) attached on either side of a polyvalent functional group (such as a divalent oxygen atom -O-, sulfur -S-, secondary amine -NH-, or carbonyl group -CO-).

Let us evaluate the options step-by-step:

1. C3H8O:
This molecular formula represents alcohols and ethers. The only ether possible with this formula is ethyl methyl ether:
CH3-O-CH2CH3
Since we cannot write any other isomeric ether with a different distribution of alkyl groups around the oxygen atom, this compound cannot exhibit metamerism.

2. C3H6O:
This molecular formula represents aldehydes, ketones, or unsaturated ethers/alcohols. The only ketone possible is propanone (acetone):
CH3-CO-CH3
Since there is only one ketone structure possible, it cannot show metamerism.

3. C4H10O:
This molecular formula represents saturated monohydric alcohols and ethers. Ethers possess a divalent oxygen atom (-O-) as their functional group. We can write multiple isomeric ethers with different alkyl groups on either side of the oxygen atom:
Diethyl ether: CH3CH2-O-CH2CH3 (two ethyl groups)
Methyl propyl ether: CH3-O-CH2CH2CH3 (one methyl and one propyl group)
Methyl isopropyl ether: CH3-O-CH(CH3)2 (one methyl and one isopropyl group)
These compounds differ only in the alkyl groups attached to the divalent oxygen atom. Thus, they are metamers, and C4H10O exhibits metamerism.

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