[arnyk]

The easiest way to look at cis and trans is this:

(the "_" represents a double bond)

cis - on both sides of the double bond, the carbons branch off the same side.  

\ _ / (both branch upwards) or
  _
/   \ (they both branch downwards)

trans- on both sides of the double bond, the carbons branch off opposite sides.

\ _
    \ (the left branches up, the right branches down)

  _ /
/      (the left branchs down, the right branches up)

Hmm, lol that actually didn't turn out too bad, hopefully you see it with as much clarity as I do.

[hmx9123]

You also need to remember that in e and g you've got more than cyclooctene--whenever you've got a double bond in a cyclic hydrocarbon, you can't have a trans- isomer until you get over 8 carbons.  The reason that you can't see the isomers in e and g is because it's not drawn in 3D as someone mentioned before.  Take a look through your book and look for trans-cyclooctene.  It's an amazing picture for a simple line drawing.  It will give you a whole new appreciation for drawing with lines.

[Winga]

Ar...I see!

Q.(g) is quite tricky!

[rleung]

Thanks for the *delete me*

Yea, I am actually reading my Orgo book myself without taking a class.  I am taking Orgo this fall, but I wanted to read the book before school starts so that I have a little understanding going into the class.  

I am using Organic Chemistry by Wade.  Has anyone ever used that book?  If yes, is it good?  The reviews on Amazon were good, but those can be biased sometimes.

Anyway, thanks for the help.  I am sure I will have many more questions this summer as I attempt to self-teach myself Orgo.

Ryan

[Ester]

The easiest way to look at cis and trans is this:

(the "_" represents a double bond)

cis - on both sides of the double bond, the carbons branch off the same side.  

\ _ / (both branch upwards) or
  _
/   \ (they both branch downwards)

trans- on both sides of the double bond, the carbons branch off opposite sides.

\ _
    \ (the left branches up, the right branches down)

  _ /
/      (the left branchs down, the right branches up)

Hmm, lol that actually didn't turn out too bad, hopefully you see it with as much clarity as I do.

This is the most simplified and might i say EASIEST way i have ever saw Cis & Trans being explianed.

[arnyk]

Hah!  It only took me 5 hours and 16 edits to work out the kinks.  

[hmx9123]

I actually used the Wade book myself when going through, although it was the 3rd Ed.  Personally, I found it the most readable and best organized organic chemistry book I've ever found.  I've seen Solomons, Morrison & Boyd, Vollhardt, and a number of the other 'big ones'.  Although I find it to be very understandable, it does lack a bit of information that some of the others cover, so some professors prefer not to use it.  I tend to think it's not as much of a problem since a. the professor can cover whatever he or she wants in class regardless of its inclusion in the book and b. it simply lacks certain information, it does not dumb down information and make it incorrect.  I hate it when books don't go into extreme detail and actually present incorrect information because the material was 'dumbed down'.

[rleung]

Thanks so much for the help  I finally get it.