Welcome Guest Search | Active Topics |

Tag as favorite
cis/trans isomers
Adriana_3954
#1 Posted : Monday, June 08, 2020 9:23:54 PM
Rank: Newbie

Groups: Registered
Joined: 5/29/2019
Posts: 3

Thanks: 0 times
Was thanked: 0 time(s) in 0 post(s)
Hi there!

I was just wondering...(on page 63 of chemistry exam Krackers manual it states that) if Cis diastereomers have a dipole moment and therefor they have stronger IMFs and a higher boiling point, how does that also correspond to them not being able to form crystals as readily as trans molecules? what kind of IMFs are helpful or required for a compound to be able to crystalize easily?
INSTR_Katerina_102
#2 Posted : Wednesday, June 10, 2020 12:26:07 AM
Rank: Advanced Member

Groups: Registered
Joined: 6/24/2019
Posts: 250

Thanks: 0 times
Was thanked: 0 time(s) in 0 post(s)
Hello,

This is an interesting question, but is unlikely to be something you are expected to know on the MCAT.

The reality is that crystallization is complex - intermolecular forces keep molecules bound together and prevent them from escaping into the gas phase (thus increasing boiling point), however, intermolecular forces alone don't mean that a compound can easily crystallize (for example glass is an amorphous solid, despite its strong intermolecular forces, it doesn't have a regular repeating crystal lattice.

So the propensity of crystallization is not just dependent on a compounds intermolecular force, but also its geometry, how easily things can stack together and other factors.

In this case, cis compounds have a larger overall dipole moment than trans compounds, meaning they tend to boil at higher temperatures. However, they have a shape that is less "stackable" than a trans compound (imagine fitting multiple cis compounds vs multiple trans compounds together molecules like puzzle pieces). This results in less propensity of cis molecules to crystallize.

I find it unlikely that something this specific would be sprung upon you without warning, unless it was outlined in the passage.

I hope this helps :)
Users browsing this topic
Guest
Tag as favorite
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.

Clean Slate theme by Jaben Cargman (Tiny Gecko)
Powered by YAF | YAF © 2003-2009, Yet Another Forum.NET
This page was generated in 0.090 seconds.