How does geometric isomerism arise?

1 Answer
anor277
Aug 8, 2016

From the property that a carbon atom bound to 4 different groups can be handed.

Explanation:

See this older answer..

That answer dealt with optical isomerism only. Structural isomerism deals with connectivity; geometric isomers have the same connectivity, but different geometry. The best example of this principle is #"cis"-"2-butene"# versus #"trans"-"2-butene"#, where each isomer certainly possesses the SAME connectivity, #C1# connects to #C2# connects to .........#C4#, but geometric isomerism is possible due to the orientation of the methyl groups about the olefinic bond.

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