C5H12 is the molecular formula for pentane, which has five carbon atoms and 12 hydrogen atoms. An isomer is a molecule that has the same molecular formula as another molecule, but with a different arrangement of atoms. Therefore, we need to look for molecules with the molecular formula C5H12 that have a different arrangement of atoms than pentane.
Let's consider the options:
- Butane (C4H10) has a different molecular formula than pentane (C5H12), so it cannot be an isomer of pentane.
- 2-Methyl propane (C4H10) also has a different molecular formula than pentane, so it cannot be an isomer of pentane.
- 2-Methyl butane (C5H12) has the same molecular formula as pentane, but with a different arrangement of atoms. Specifically, the carbon atoms in 2-methyl butane are arranged in a branched chain, while the carbon atoms in pentane are arranged in a straight chain. Therefore, 2-methyl butane is an isomer of pentane.
- 2-Ethyl butane (C6H14) has a different molecular formula than pentane, so it cannot be an isomer of pentane.
Therefore, the isomer of C5H12 is 2-methyl butane.