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Multiple Choice

Which among these is not a structural isomer of the compound C4H8?

Structural isomers share the same molecular formula but differ in how the atoms are connected. For C4H8, there are several distinct connectivities: a straight-chain alkene with a terminal double bond (but-1-ene), a branched alkene (2-methylprop-1-ene), and a cycloalkane (cyclobutane). The designation but-3-ene refers to a double bond between the third and fourth carbons in a four-carbon chain, but numbering from the other end gives but-1-ene. So but-3-ene is not a distinct structural isomer—it’s the same molecule as but-1-ene. Cyclobutane, on the other hand, has a ring structure and connectivity different from the open-chain alkenes, making it a legit structural isomer of C4H8. The key idea is that some names describe the same structure when renumbered, while others describe genuinely different connectivities.

Structural isomers share the same molecular formula but differ in how the atoms are connected. For C4H8, there are several distinct connectivities: a straight-chain alkene with a terminal double bond (but-1-ene), a branched alkene (2-methylprop-1-ene), and a cycloalkane (cyclobutane). The designation but-3-ene refers to a double bond between the third and fourth carbons in a four-carbon chain, but numbering from the other end gives but-1-ene. So but-3-ene is not a distinct structural isomer—it’s the same molecule as but-1-ene. Cyclobutane, on the other hand, has a ring structure and connectivity different from the open-chain alkenes, making it a legit structural isomer of C4H8. The key idea is that some names describe the same structure when renumbered, while others describe genuinely different connectivities.