Definitions: Geometric Isomers
Additionally, consider the next two molecules.
In the molecule on the left, the methyl groups are on the same side of the double bond (
cis), and in the molecule on the right, the methyl groups are on opposite sides of the double bond (
trans). A double bond can be thought of like a two-membered "ring," shown below. This two-membered "ring" locks groups into positions like the six-membered rings shown in the first set of examples. Therefore, these are
geometric isomers because the double bond will not allow these molecules to interconvert.
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