3 ms·
As far as I understand, we're saying the same thing. isomer /'aɪsəmər/ noun a compound that exists in forms having different arrangements of at
by dcow 3y ago
As far as I understand, we're saying the same thing.
isomer
/'aɪsəmər/
noun
a compound that exists in forms having different arrangements of atoms but the same molecular weight
I'm using isomer to refer to possible different arrangements of "the LK99 compound". I see you're saying allotropes refers to diamond vs carbon (allotrope referring a single element vs isomer referring to compound).
That raises a question, what's the name for different crystalline structures of the same compound? Is that still an isomer or something different? I'm out of my element here.
- jacquesm 3y agoAn isomer can have different valences but still have the same overall chemical formula. So just for an example (I have no idea how to put a tetrahedron in a comment :) ) a chain of C-C-C-C and C-C=C-C (which you likely can not synthesize) would be an isomer but C-C-C-C in one crystal lattice versus C-C-C-C in another crystal lattice would be allotropes. The carbon in graphite sits in sheets (hence the possibility to form graphene), whereas the carbon in a diamond always forms three dimensional lattices. edit nah: bad example, sorry, I can't find a good way to visualize this in text the 2nd C-C-C-C chain should have the last C dangling from the 2nd down. edit2: examples are wrong, I should have used a more complex molecule for the isomer and the carbon can have either three or four other carbons hanging of it for the allotrope. tricky...
- dcow 3y agoJust double checking, the definitions I'm finding for allotrope are specific to a single element. allotrope /'ælə,troʊp/ noun a structurally different form of an element I'm having trouble finding allotrope used to refer to different forms of a compound. https://www.differencebetween.com/difference-between-allotrope-and-vs-isomer/ https://www.differencebetween.com/difference-between-allotro...
- jacquesm 3y agoYes, you're right, I should have used a more complex example for an isomer.
- cyberax 3y agoIsomers are structurally different. Allotropes refer to variations of the same element. You're looking at the word "polymorph": "(chemistry, geology) Any substance or mineral that forms different types of crystal."
- dcow 3y agoThank you.