WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CIS-TRANS ISOMERS AND STEREOISOMERS?
CIS – TRANS ISOMERS
We come across different forms of isomers when we study
the isomers in chemistry. There are other sub- division of isomers, such as
trans and cis isomers, although isomers are mostly divided into two groups
constitutional isomers and stereoisomers, which we’ll be learning more about in
a while. There’s still a difference between trans and cis isomers, however.
Generally, in both inorganic and organic compounds, we’ll
be able to find the cis
and trans isomers. The isomers which on the same side of the
double bond in a molecule, have two similar atoms lying are known as cis
isomers, and isomers that have molecules with two similar atoms which are
placed on opposite sides of the double bond are known as trans isomers. Both
trans and cis isomers differ in a few aspects although they do have the same
molecular formula.
I the same order, the atoms which make up isomers in
stereoisomerism join up, but they differ in spatial arrangement. One of the
types of stereoisomerism is geometric isomerism. When the rotation in a
molecule is restricted, these kinds of isomers tend to occur. Carbon- carbon
double bond is generally consisted by the examples of stereoisomers. The main
difference between the cis isomers and the trans isomers lies inn the
arrangement of the atoms in the double bond.
We refer to cis isomers as the molecules which have the
same connectivity of the atoms. Similar side groups which are placed in the
same side of the double bond are constituted by them. On the other hand,
molecules that have similar side groups which are placed in the opposite sides
of the double bond are had by the trans isomers. Generally cis isomers are
almost polar, whereas in trans isomers, as most of the trans isomers that we
know of are non- polar molecules, they are not much polar,. When compared to the
trans- isomers, the cis isomers have relatively lower melting points because of
the loosely packed molecules. On the flip side, the melting points of the trans
isomers are generally higher because of the tightly packed molecules. The cis
isomers tend to possess a higher boiling point because of the strong attractive
forces between the two atoms. Whereas, in trans isomers since there are no such
strong attractive forces, there is comparatively low boiling point.
STEREOISOMERS
Isomers which differ in spatial arrangement of atoms,
rather than order of atomic connectivity, are known as stereoisomers. The
mirror- image stereoisomers are one of their most interesting type of isomer.
The mirror- image stereoisomer is a non- superimposable set of two molecules which
are mirror images of each other. The concept known as chirality is what the
existence of these molecules are determined by.
Around a chain of carbon atoms, or more commonly knows as
a carbon backbone, organic compound play and essential role in the chemistry of
life. From the energy that they carry, mainly in a form of potential energy
between atomic modules, these molecules derive their importance. Due to the
changes in atomic placement, such potential force can be widely affected,
resulting in it being important to understand the concept of an isomer. A
molecule that shares the same atomic makeup as another but differs in
structural arrangements is known as an isomer. The specific isomer that we are
interested in right now is the stereoisomers.
The concepts of chirality and stereoisomerism are very
important in the field of modern organic chemistry because these we can use
these ideas to help us understand the theoretical and physical reasons behind
the formation and structures of numerous organic molecules. In order to
understand what makes stereoisomers so unique, one must be able to imagine and
think not only 2D terms, but in 3D terms as well. The is because, since their
atoms are different from others in terms of spatial arrangement, it is well known
fact that stereoisomers are isomers.
Different types of isomers, each with distinct
characteristics which further separate each other as chemical entities having
different properties, as mentioned above, are contained by stereoisomers. The
mirror- image stereoisomers which we mentioned earlier are the type called
enantiomer. The diastereomer is another type.
The essential mirror- image superimposable type of
stereoisomer which was introduced in the earlier are the enantiomers. A perfect
example is provided below:
Note that the mirror is denoted by the grey plane in the
middle. Also note that, the atomic spatial arrangement will not be equal if one
were to flip over the left molecule over the right. It is referred to as
handedness in molecules, it being equivalent to the left hand- right hand
relationship. It is recommended to try out the ‘hand’ experiment, as this can
be somewhat counter- intuitive.
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