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Isomers of Butane.

Butane (C4H10) has two structural isomers.

Isomer 1 is the straight chain normal structure for butane (called n-butane).
n-butane - Isomer of Butane


Isomer 2 (called 2-methylpropane) is a different structure
with a branched chain which has a carbon* atom
joined onto three other carbon atoms.
2-methylpropane - Isomer of Butane


The two isomers are different compounds with different boiling points.

Note that for both isomers, each carbon atom has four bonds (valency 4),
and each hydrogen atom has one bond (valency 1).
Valency is the combining power of an atom.
You cannot change the number of bonds which each atom has.

Changing the shape of the molecule
does not produce a different isomer - see pentane.

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