What molecule is a stereoisomer of trans-2-pentene?

1 Answer
Jun 11, 2016

#"Trans-2-pentene"# does not have a stereoisomer. It does have a geometric isomer.

Explanation:

The mirror image of #"trans"-H_3C-CH_2CH=CHCH_3# is superposable upon its mirror image. How do I know this? Well, I just drew the isomer out and reflected its representation on the printed page.

For #"cis"-H_3C-CH_2CH=CHCH_3#, the connectivity is the same as for the #"trans"# isomer. #C1# connects to #C2# connects to #C3# etc. Nevertheless, the #cis# isomer is geometrically distinct from the #trans# isomer. Because these are geomeric isomers, which are NOT mirror images, the #cis# and #trans# isomers are diasteromers, geometric isomers that are not mirror images.