Z and E how to tell the difference

[tobeylee_1C]

Im having a big confusion on how do you tell cis and trans when the line structure is shaped like monoterpenes. Anyone would care to explain a method to see if its Cis or Trans?

[Anmol Dhaliwal 2C]

For those, look at the main chain of the carbons, then where the double bond is in the structure. Look at the two biggest molecules on the bond and identify if they are both going in the same direction (up or down). If they are, it would be a cis structure. If the two biggest molecules on the bond are in directions opposite to each other (for instance, if there is a substituent it could be facing out of the chain) so one is pointing to upward and the other downward, it would be a trans structure. Hope this helps!

[Diana_Visco_1l]

Ensure that you are focussing on the "priority rules," in regards to breaking apart double bonds and giving precedence to elements with higher atomic #. Also looking at the line structure and where H atoms are bonded helps establish the geometry and provides a visual representation of where molecules are situation around bonds.