Keto Enol Tautomerism

Chemistry
Is the term keto enol tautomerism familiar to you? If not, give attention to the ensuing discussion. Organic chemistry would be of no value if not for multiple bonds and functional groups.  Such groups impart the reactivity needed to sustain life. One attachment is carbonyl (–C=O). Tautomerism Given the right environment, atoms of a carbonyl group tautomerize. That is, they can exchange a proton (hydrogen). In so doing a π-bond is formed or disappears. The carbonyl or keto form assumes the alkene-alcohol or enol form, or vice versa. For acetone, the two forms are, CH3–(C=O)–CH3 keto form CH2=C(OH)–CH3 enol form See the image above. [sc name="MidArticleAdsense"] Both Aldehydes and Ketones Participate A ketone has its carbonyl carbon atom linked to two other carbon atoms. An aldehyde has its carbonyl carbon…
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Chemicals With the Same Empirical Formula

Chemistry
An empirical formula lists the elements of a compound but not the structure. Oxalic acid has the formula C2H2O4. Its structure is HOOC–COOH. Multiple compounds can have the same empirical formula and a different structure. The Same Yet Different Location of a specific kind of bond may make the difference. There are compounds with the same empirical formula in which spatial orientation is the only difference. Sometimes one structure can be changed into another structure of the same formula. Most often compounds having the same formula but different structures are completely unrelated. Simple Bond Shift In some cases, a simple bond shift produces different structures with no formula change. An example is 1-butene and 2-butene. The first has the structure H2C=CH-CH2-CH3. The second has the structure H3C-CH=CH-CH3. Both have the…
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