R/S and E/Z Configuration Exercises-I

Select a GROUP (R/S, E/Z or R/S-E/Z) from the top of the black panel. Select a molecule; it will appear in the white panel. In examples under "Several Chiral Centers", the numbers in brackets indicate the number of chiral centers. Determine the R/S and/or E/Z-configurations. Click the respective green "show" button to display answers and any comments (Notes:). Atom Colors: carbon, gray; hydrogen, light blue; bromine, magenta; chlorine, green; nitrogen, blue; oxygen, red; lithium, pink; silicon, tan; sulfur, yellow. Caveat: Atom numbers (hovering) may not agree with nomenclature numbers. Read How to Manipulate JSmol Structures on how to navigate structures. If you use the clockwise vs. counterclockwise method to determine R/S-configuration, there is a better (hand) method discussed in a primer on R/S-configuration. The double bonds in some substituted benzenoid rings will have different E/Z-designations depending upon which resonance structure is shown. These designations have no meaning in delocalized structures. [See the two vanillins in the E/Z-group.] [Powered by Jmol 14.14.1]. Benzenoid double bonds are excluded in the exercises in this link.


Select a Group (default R/S Group)


One Chiral Center















Several Chiral Centers



























E/Z-Alkenes













Enols/Enolates







Natural Products






(How to Manipulate JSmol Structures.)