levo

Alkenes

E/Z and cis-trans isomerism in alkenes

  • 3 things to know
  • Components 02 and 03

Overview

Recall questions on what causes E/Z isomerism, the structural requirement at each carbon, the Cahn-Ingold-Prelog priority rules, and when cis and trans may be used instead.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started
Numbers

What are stereoisomers, what must each carbon of the double bond carry, and which rules assign E and Z?

Numbers

When may E and Z be treated as trans and cis, what does 'cis' indicate, and what must you check on each carbon of the double bond?

Numbers

If both carbons of a C=C bond each have two different substituents attached, what can you conclude about stereoisomerism?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    What are stereoisomers?

    Model answer

    Compounds with the same structural formula but with a different arrangement in space.

  2. 2

    What causes E/Z isomerism to occur in alkenes?

    Model answer

    Restricted rotation about a carbon-carbon double bond.

  3. 3

    What structural requirement must be met at each carbon of a C=C double bond for E/Z isomerism to exist?

    Model answer

    Two different groups must be attached to each carbon atom of the C=C double bond.

  4. 4

    What is cis-trans isomerism in relation to E/Z isomerism?

    Model answer

    Cis-trans isomerism is a special case of E/Z isomerism in which two of the substituent groups attached to each carbon atom of the C=C group are the same.

  5. 5

    What system of rules is used to assign E and Z labels to stereoisomers?

    Model answer

    The Cahn-Ingold-Prelog (CIP) priority rules.

  6. 6

    How is priority assigned to atoms in the Cahn-Ingold-Prelog rules?

    Model answer

    Atoms of higher atomic number are assigned higher priority.

Other ways to work this

The same content, four other ways.

What is inside Levo

Six ways to work the same material.

1Closed book
2Open book
3Closed book

The 3-step method, run for you

Answer cold, learn it, then prove it stuck. Levo tracks the jump between your first attempt and your last.

Foundations in Chemistry
Bonding and Structure
Periodic Table and Energy
Enthalpy Changes

Cram a whole paper in one sitting

Sort every topic into what you know and what you do not, then drill only the weak ones.

The order is .
201

Blank Blitz makes facts automatic

Rapid timed gap-fills on the terms and numbers you need to recall without thinking.

AThe first step is Cl• + O₃ → ClO• + O₂.
BThe second step is ClO• + O → Cl• + O₂.
CThe overall equation is O₃ + O → 2O₂.

Build It gets the exam shape right

Assemble a full-mark answer from its marking points, in the order an examiner wants them.

In ClO⁻, chlorine has oxidation number +1.
TrueFalse

Test It catches misconceptions

Spot the fault in a statement. The traps are the mistakes students actually make.

721941163128510

Brain Breaks between sessions

Short focus games to reset attention, so the next set lands better than the last.

Every question in Alkenes, on a schedule.

Attempt a question from memory, write the correct version, then attempt it again. Levo records the jump between your first attempt and your last, and brings each question back on the day you are due to forget it.

Or £46 a year, about £3.83 a month. Cancel anytime.