Cis-Dichloroethene vs Trans-Dichloroethene

[Ashley Kao 1H]

Seeing that Cis-Dichloroethene and Trans-Dichloroethene have the same molecular formula, how will we know which molecular structure is accurate and compatible with the molecular formula?

[Karyn How 1J]

The problem will probably specify whether the molecule is a cis or trans or the problem might indicate the orientation of dichloroethene and you would just have to know whether it is cis or trans to draw.

[Jonathan Gong 2H]

Both are accurate and compatible with the molecular formula. It will most likely be specified whether the structure corresponding with the molecular formula is cis- or trans-. But, this is organic chemistry so I'm not sure if we really need to know this.

[Nikki Razal 1L]

just to add on, cis structures will have the same elements on one side of a structure, making it polar, whereas trans structures will have the same elements on opposite sides of the structure, making it nonpolar