How can #"E/Z"# isomers arise?

1 Answer
anor277
Feb 2, 2017

Consider the simple molecule #"2-butylene..........."#

Explanation:

Now for #H_3C-CH=CH-CH_3# we can have 2 geometric isomers:

#"cis-2-butylene"# or #"Z-butene"#; or #"trans-2-butylene"# or #"E-butene"#

![https://tse2.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.9O2vdqn26zm6igIH4e9o2AEsBc&pid=15.1&P=0&w=340&h=105](useruploads.socratic.org)

For both isomers, the connectivity is MANIFESTLY the same: #C1# connects to #C2# connects......to #C4#. However, the geometry is manifestly different, and this geometric isomerism gives rise to different physical and chemical properties.

For example, #"cis-2-butene"# has a boiling point of #3.7# #""^@C#; on the other hand, #"trans-2-butene"# has a boiling point of #0.9# #""^@C#;

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