ASYMMETRIC CENTRE Meaning and
Definition
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An asymmetric centre, also known as a stereogenic centre or chiral centre, is a term commonly used in the field of organic chemistry to describe a specific configuration of atoms within a molecule. It refers to an atom that is bonded to four different groups, resulting in non-superimposable mirror images. This characteristic is central to the property of chirality, which plays a crucial role in various biological, chemical, and pharmacological processes.
The presence of an asymmetric centre leads to the formation of two distinct spatial arrangements of atoms, referred to as enantiomers. Enantiomers possess identical physical properties such as boiling point and solubility, but exhibit opposite optical activity, implying their ability to rotate the plane of polarized light in opposite directions. This property is of immense importance in fields like pharmaceuticals, as enantiomers often display different pharmacological activities.
An asymmetric centre can arise due to the presence of a carbon or other element in a molecule, typically when it exhibits a tetrahedral geometry and has four different substituents bonded to it. It can also be formed by other elements like nitrogen, phosphorus, or sulfur, depending on the molecule's structure.
In summary, an asymmetric centre is an atom within a molecule that possesses four different substituents, causing the molecule to have non-superimposable mirror images. The presence of an asymmetric centre leads to the formation of different spatial arrangements called enantiomers and is of great significance in the study of chirality in organic chemistry and its applications in various scientific disciplines.
Common Misspellings for ASYMMETRIC CENTRE
- zsymmetric centre
- ssymmetric centre
- wsymmetric centre
- qsymmetric centre
- aaymmetric centre
- azymmetric centre
- axymmetric centre
- adymmetric centre
- aeymmetric centre
- awymmetric centre
- astmmetric centre
- asgmmetric centre
- ashmmetric centre
- asummetric centre
- as7mmetric centre
- as6mmetric centre
- asynmetric centre
- asykmetric centre
- asyjmetric centre
- asymnetric centre
Etymology of ASYMMETRIC CENTRE
The term "asymmetric center" is derived from two words: "asymmetric" and "center".
- The word "asymmetric" refers to something that lacks symmetry or proportion. It comes from the Greek word "asymmetros", where "a-" means "without", and "symmetros" means "symmetry".
- The word "center" refers to the point in the middle or at the heart of something. It originated from the Latin word "centrum", which means "center" or "pivot".
When the two words are combined, "asymmetric center" is used to describe a specific type of molecular structure where a carbon atom is bonded to four different groups. This carbon atom is referred to as the asymmetric center because it lacks symmetry due to the different groups attached to it.
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