If a gas is contained in a cylinder labelled pentane, when it undergoes a monochlorination reation, five isomers of the derivative C₅H₁₁Cl will be produced because the cylinder is made up of a mixture of two or all three of the forms of pentane.
n-pentane will produce three isomeric monochlorides when monochlorinated.
isopentane will yields four isomeric monochlorides when monochlorinated.
neopentane produce just one monochloride.
None of the different isomer can give five isomers at a go. Therefore, the gas in the cylinder is a mixture of two or all three types of pentane that has been listed.
