87.7k views
2 votes
Can a double-bonded compound have conformational isomers? If not, what can they have?

A) Yes, due to rotation around the double bond
B) No, only geometric isomers
C) No, only structural isomers
D) Yes, only in the presence of a catalyst

1 Answer

0 votes

Final answer:

Double-bonded compounds cannot have conformational isomers due to the rigidity of the double bond but can have geometric isomers, such as the cis and trans forms.

Step-by-step explanation:

Can a double-bonded compound have conformational isomers? The answer is No, double-bonded compounds cannot have conformational isomers due to the lack of rotation around the double bond. They can, however, have geometric isomers, which arise from the different spatial arrangements of groups around the double bond.

Geometric isomers have the same sequence of bonded atoms but differ in their spatial orientation, such as the cis and trans configurations in alkenes like 2-butene. Because the double bond between carbon atoms is rigid and does not allow rotation (unlike single bonds which allow for rotation and thus, conformational isomers), these geometric isomers have distinct physical and chemical properties and cannot interconvert without breaking the double bond.

User Mayukh Sarkar
by
7.4k points