Stereoisomers
Stereoisomers
Stereoisomers (pronunciation: /ˌstɛriːoʊˈaɪsəmərz/) are a type of isomer where the atoms in the molecules are the same but differ in the spatial arrangement. The term "stereoisomer" comes from the Greek words "stereos" meaning solid and "isos" meaning equal, and "meros" meaning part.
Stereoisomers can be further divided into two subtypes: geometric isomers and optical isomers.
Geometric Isomers
Geometric isomers, also known as cis-trans isomers, have the same molecular formula but differ in the spatial orientation of functional groups that are around a double bond or a ring structure. The terms "cis" and "trans" are Latin words meaning "on the same side" and "across" respectively.
Optical Isomers
Optical isomers, also known as enantiomers, are pairs of molecules that are mirror images of each other, much like left and right hands. They are named for their ability to rotate plane-polarized light in different directions.
Related Terms
- Isomer: Molecules with the same molecular formula but different structural formulas.
- Enantiomer: One of a pair of optical isomers.
- Chirality (chemistry): A property of a molecule that is not superimposable on its mirror image.
- Cis-trans isomerism: A type of stereoisomerism where the spatial orientation of functional groups differs around a double bond or a ring structure.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Stereoisomers
- Wikipedia's article - Stereoisomers
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski