What type of isomerism is exhibited by butene (C4H8)?

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Q: What type of isomerism is exhibited by butene (C4H8)?

Solution: Butene exhibits geometric isomerism due to the presence of a double bond, allowing for cis and trans configurations.

Steps: 7

Step 1: Understand what butene is. Butene is a hydrocarbon with the formula C4H8, meaning it has 4 carbon atoms and 8 hydrogen atoms.
Step 2: Identify the type of bond in butene. Butene contains a double bond between two carbon atoms.
Step 3: Learn about isomerism. Isomerism occurs when compounds have the same molecular formula but different structures or arrangements.
Step 4: Recognize that double bonds can lead to different arrangements. The presence of a double bond in butene allows for different spatial arrangements of the atoms.
Step 5: Understand geometric isomerism. Geometric isomerism occurs when there are different possible arrangements (cis and trans) around a double bond.
Step 6: Identify the configurations. In butene, the 'cis' configuration has similar groups on the same side of the double bond, while the 'trans' configuration has them on opposite sides.
Step 7: Conclude that butene exhibits geometric isomerism due to its double bond allowing for these configurations.