Types of isomerism . Isomerism may be divided into following types:
1. Structural isomerism
2. Space or Stereoisomerism.
1. Structural isomerism: When the same molecular formula represents two or more compounds which differ in structures, then such compounds are called structural isomers and the phenomenon is called structural isomerism. Structural isomerism may be further classified as:
(i) Chain isomerism
(ii) Position isomerism
(iii) Functional group isomerism
(iv) Metamerism
(v) Tautomerism.
2. Stereoisomerism: In this case, isomers have the same structural formulae but they differ in the distribution of atoms or groups in space. It is of three types:
(i) Conformational isomerism
(ii) Optical isomerism
(iii) Geometrical isomerism.
