Question Details

The compound which shows metamerism is :

Options

A

C₅H₁₂

B

C₃H₈O

C

C₃H₆O

D

C₄H₁₀O

Correct Answer :

C₄H₁₀O

Solution :

The correct answer is C4H10O.

Understanding Metamerism:
Metamerism is a type of structural isomerism shown by compounds sharing the same molecular formula but having different alkyl groups attached to the same polyvalent functional group (such as a divalent ether oxygen -O-, a divalent thioether sulfur -S-, a carbonyl group -CO-, or an imino group -NH-).

Let us evaluate each of the given options:

1. C5H12: This is an alkane (pentane). It has no heteroatom or polyvalent functional group, so it cannot exhibit metamerism.
2. C3H8O: This represents alcohols and ethers. The only ether possible with three carbon atoms is methoxyethane:
CH3-O-C2H5
Since there is only one way to arrange the carbon atoms around the oxygen atom, it cannot form metamers.
3. C3H6O: This represents aldehydes, ketones, or unsaturated alcohols/ethers. The only ketone possible with three carbon atoms is propanone:
CH3-CO-CH3
We cannot vary the alkyl groups on either side of the carbonyl group, so it does not show metamerism.
4. C4H10O: This molecular formula represents ethers and alcohols with four carbon atoms. We can write multiple ether structures by varying the alkyl groups attached to the divalent oxygen atom:
• Diethyl ether (ethoxyethane): C2H5-O-C2H5
• Methyl propyl ether (1-methoxypropane): CH3-O-CH2CH2CH3
• Methyl isopropyl ether (2-methoxypropane): CH3-O-CH(CH3)2

Because these compounds have different alkyl chains distributed around the same functional group (-O-), they are metamers of each other. Therefore, the compound C4H10O shows metamerism.

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