Question

O-cresol and benzyl alcohol are:
(A) Functional isomers
(B) Positional isomers
(C) Chain isomers
(D) All of the above

Answer 1

Hint: To solve this question first we have to draw the structure of the given compound i.e. o-cresol and benzyl alcohol. Isomers are the molecules having identical molecular formula but different arrangements of atoms.

Complete step by step solution:
Before solving this question let's understand the terms given in the options:
Functional isomers – these are the type of isomers which have the same molecular formula but the connectivity of atoms is different in ways and it falls into the different functional groups.
-Positional isomers – these are the types of isomers which have the same molecular formula but there is a difference in the position of the functional groups.
-Chain isomers – these are the types of isomers which have the same molecular formula but there is a difference in the arrangements of the carbon skeleton.
O-cresol and benzyl alcohol have the following structure:

-They are functional isomers i.e. these are the type of isomers which have the same molecular formula but the connectivity of atoms is different in ways and it falls into the different functional groups.

Hence the correct answer is option (A) i.e. functional isomers

Additional information:
While deciding the kind of structural isomerism follow the following order to avoid the confusion:
Ring chain isomers
Tautomerism
Functional isomerism
Metamerism
Chain isomerism
Position isomerism

Note: Stereoisomers is another type of isomerism which is further divided into conformational and configurational isomerism. This kind of isomerism deals with the spatial arrangements or the orientation of the molecules atoms in a compound in space.