Question

What are geometric isomers?

A. compounds that have the same types of atoms arranged in different orders
B. compounds that have the same number of carbon atoms arranged in different orders
C. compounds that have the same atoms arranged in the same order, but with different three-dimensional orientations
D. compounds that have the same atoms arranged in the same order, and have the same three-dimensional orientations

Answer 1

Geometrical isomers are isomers that have the same molecular formula but the atoms are in different non-equivalent positions to one another. Geometrical isomers occur as a result of restricted rotation about a carbon-carbon bond. Single bonds between two carbons in a non-cyclic structure may rotate around each other unhindered at room temperature because as the carbons rotate around each other the degree of overlap between the atomic orbitals is not changed and remain at maximum overlap as rotation occurs.

short story - A