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What are the Isomers of Butane?

Butane (C₄H₁₀) has two structural isomers.

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

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 the isomers of pentane.

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