isomer
1 synonym for isomer, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A chemical compound that shares its molecular formula with another compound but has a different arrangement of atoms.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
nuclear isomer
How to use isomer
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
structural isomer
an isomer of
separate the isomers
Isomer is a technical term used in chemistry and physics rather than everyday speech.
Etymology
Isomer is built from the combining form iso-, meaning equal, joined to -mer, relating to a part or unit. The formation reflects that an isomer is made of the same parts as another compound, just arranged differently.
Full origin of isomer →Frequently asked questions
What is an isomer?
An isomer is one of two or more chemical compounds that share the same molecular formula but differ in how their atoms are arranged.
Are isomers the same substance?
No, isomers have identical formulas but different structures, so they can behave quite differently as substances.
What is a nuclear isomer?
A nuclear isomer is one of two or more atomic nuclei that share the same mass number and atomic number but differ in their radioactive behaviour.
