Isobutyl and sec-butyl represent different alkyl groups. Do Isopropyl and sec-propyl also represent different alkyl groups ? Comment.

Isobutyl and sec-butyl represent different alkyl groups. Do Isopropyl

1.	Isobutyl and sec-butyl represent different alkyl groups. Do Isopropyl and sec-propyl also represent different alkyl groups ? Comment.
Answer» Solution :Isobutyl group and sec-butyl group represent DIFFERENT structures since isobutyl group has a `CH_(3)` side CHAIN at position 2 and a free valency at position 1 while sec-butyl group has only a free valency at position 2 as shown below. Since propyl group has three carbon ATOMS, it cannot have a `CH_(3)` side chain but an have only a free valency at position 2. Therefore, it should be actually called as sec-propyl. `underset("sec-Propyl or Isopropyl")(underset(1)(C)H_(3)-underset(2)overset(\|)(C)H-underset(3)(CH_(3)))` But it is more commonly called as Isopropyl group which is a misnomer. Since there is no ambiguity, therefore, both isopropyl and sec-propyl represent the same alkyl group.