C4H10O is the molecular formula for several different chemical compounds, most notably different isomers of butyl alcohol (butanol) and diethyl ether. The key difference between these compounds lies in their structural arrangement, leading to distinct physical and chemical properties.
Butyl Alcohol (Butanol) Isomers
Butyl alcohol, also known as butanol, has several isomeric forms, all sharing the C4H10O molecular formula. These isomers differ in the position of the hydroxyl (-OH) group on the four-carbon chain:
- 1-Butanol (n-Butanol): The hydroxyl group is attached to the first carbon atom. This is also known as n-butanol or normal butanol.
- 2-Butanol (sec-Butanol): The hydroxyl group is attached to the second carbon atom. This is also known as sec-butanol or secondary butanol.
- Isobutanol (2-Methyl-1-propanol): This isomer has a branched structure with a methyl group attached to the second carbon and the hydroxyl group attached to the first.
- tert-Butanol (2-Methyl-2-propanol): This isomer has a branched structure with a methyl group attached to the second carbon and the hydroxyl group attached to the same carbon as the hydroxyl group. This is also known as tert-butanol or tertiary butanol.
These butanol isomers find various uses, including solvents, fuel additives, and chemical intermediates.
Diethyl Ether
Diethyl ether, also known as ethoxyethane, is another compound that shares the molecular formula C4H10O. However, unlike butanol, it is an ether, not an alcohol. Its structure consists of two ethyl groups (C2H5) bonded to an oxygen atom (C2H5OC2H5). Diethyl ether is commonly used as a solvent and was historically used as an anesthetic.
Summary
C4H10O is the molecular formula that can represent several different compounds, with the most common being the various isomers of butanol (1-butanol, 2-butanol, isobutanol, tert-butanol) and diethyl ether. The specific compound is determined by the arrangement of the atoms within the molecule.
