Question

How do geometric isomers differ from each other?

Answer 1

Hint: Geometrical isomer is a type of stereoisomers which are identified on the basis of difference in spatial arrangements of the functional group. The molecular formula and the bonds would be the same, but the arrangement of the functional groups would be different.


Complete answer:
The molecules which are observed to have identical molecular formula, but are known to have a different spatial arrangement of the atoms belonging to a molecule are known as Isomers. This definition of the isomers does not take into account any different kind of arrangements which arise just because of the rotation of the molecule as a whole, or rotating around a certain specific bond. When the constituent atoms of a molecule are connected with each other in a different order, the phenomena is termed as the structural isomerism.
In case of stereoisomerism, the constituent atoms of the isomers are being connected in the same order, but the structures still manage to possess a different kind of arrangement in the space. Geometric isomerism is one kind of stereoisomerism.
The geometrical isomers can be defined as those isomers which occur in the molecules which have restricted rotation somewhere in the structure of the molecule. Some of the common examples of geometrical isomers may include the presence of carbon-carbon double bonds in a molecule. When two carbons of a molecule are connected with each other by a double bond, they have restricted rotation, meaning the bond will break if we were to rotate them around those double bonds.
There exists two divisions of geometrical isomerism, namely cis and trans isomerism.
Trans isomerism is the kind of isomerism where the functional groups of the molecule are present at different sides, meaning if one is upward facing the other will be downward facing, on either side of the double bond. And in case of the cis isomerism the functional group would be present at the same side of the double bond.
An example of geometrical isomerism is shown below in the diagram.

Note:The geometrical isomers are different from each other on the basis of the position of the functional group attached to the two carbons which are bonded with each other through a double bond. If the two functional groups are attached on the same side of the double bond, then it becomes the cis form, and if the two groups are on the different side of the double bond, then it will be termed as trans form.