Organic Chemistry – Some Basic Principles and Techniques

CH2- O \|C-CH3 and CH2= O |C-CH3 are

1. resonating structures
2. tautomers
3. geometrical isomers
4. optical isomers

Answer

(1) resonating structures

Solution

In both structures every atom (C, H, O) occupies the same position; only the electrons (the lone pair and the π electrons) are placed differently.

CH2- O \|C-CH3 CH2= O |C-CH3

As per NCERT, structures that differ only in the position of electrons (not of atoms) are resonance structures (canonical structures).

Tautomers differ in the position of an atom (usually H), so they are not tautomers.

Answer: (1)