Question

A cylinder is labeled \"PENTANE.\" When the gas inside the cylinder is monochlorinated, five isomers of formula C5H11Cl result. Was the gas pure n-pentane, pure isopentane, pure neopentane, or a mixture of two or all three of these?

Answer 1

Answer:

a mixture of two these

Explanation:

The number of isomeric monochlorides depends on the structure and number of equivalent hydrogen atoms in each isomer of pentane.

n-pentane has three different kinds of equivalent hydrogen atoms leading to three isomeric monochlorides formed.

Isopentane has four different types of equivalent hydrogen atoms hence four isomeric monochlorides are formed.

Lastly, neopentane has only one type of equivalent hydrogen atoms that yields one mono chlorination product.

Hence the cylinder must contain a mixture of isopentane and neopentane which yields four and one isomeric monochlorides giving a total of five identifiable monochloride products as stated in the question.