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Glite Dictionary
geometric isomer

geometric isomer

8.2
A molecule with the same formula but atoms in a different arrangement giving other properties
  • noun
  • /ˌdʒiːəˈmɛtrɪk ˈaɪsəˌmɚ/
  • Specialized
translation icon : isómero geométrico
  • And when you have these geometric isomers, they can have very different properties.

Examples

  • Geometric isomers can exhibit different boiling points despite having the same molecular formula.

  • The geometric isomer of the compound has a distinct smell compared to its counterpart.

  • In organic chemistry, students learn that geometric isomers can have different reactiveness due to their spatial arrangement.

Synonyms

isomer
vsgeometric isomer
  • Specialized
1 8.2

A substance with the same numbers and kinds of atoms as another but arranged differently

is more specific, highlighting spatial arrangement that produces distinct properties
stereoisomer
vsgeometric isomer
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A molecule with the same atoms joined in the same order but arranged differently in space

is narrower, focusing on spatial difference that changes chemical properties

Surface Forms

geometric isomer singular
geometric isomers plural

Morphology

geometric + isomer

Both constituents directly contribute to the meaning: 'isomer' denotes compounds with the same formula but different structures, and 'geometric' signals that the structural difference concerns spatial/geometric arrangement. A B1 learner who knows these two words can reasonably infer that a 'geometric isomer' is an isomer differing in spatial arrangement, so the compound meaning is compositional and predictable.

Etymology

Geometric isomer comes from geometric ('shape') and isomer ('same parts'). Imagine two toy cars made from the same blocks but put together differently so they look and behave differently; that image explains why the term means molecules with the 'same parts' arranged in a 'different shape', giving them different properties.