STEREOISOMERIC Meaning and
Definition
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Stereoisomeric refers to a phenomenon that occurs in organic chemistry where two or more molecules have the same chemical formula but differ in the spatial arrangement of their atoms. These molecules are called stereoisomers or stereoisomeric compounds. Stere- means "three-dimensional" and is derived from the Greek word "stereos," indicating solid or three-dimensional space.
Stereoisomers are classified into two main types: enantiomers and diastereomers. Enantiomers are mirror images of each other and cannot be superimposed. They have the same physical and chemical properties but differ in their interaction with plane-polarized light, with one form being dextrorotatory (rotates plane-polarized light to the right) and the other being levorotatory (rotates plane-polarized light to the left).
Diastereomers, on the other hand, are stereoisomers that are not mirror images of each other and can be superimposed. They have different physical and chemical properties, such as different melting points, boiling points, and solubilities. Diastereomers arise from the presence of multiple chiral centers in a molecule.
The phenomenon of stereoisomerism is important in understanding the structure and behavior of organic compounds, particularly in drug design, as different stereoisomers can have different biological activities or affinities for binding sites in the body. Therefore, the ability to differentiate and separate stereoisomers is crucial in pharmaceutical research and development.
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Relating to stereoisomerism.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for STEREOISOMERIC
- atereoisomeric
- ztereoisomeric
- xtereoisomeric
- dtereoisomeric
- etereoisomeric
- wtereoisomeric
- srereoisomeric
- sfereoisomeric
- sgereoisomeric
- syereoisomeric
- s6ereoisomeric
- s5ereoisomeric
- stwreoisomeric
- stsreoisomeric
- stdreoisomeric
- strreoisomeric
- st4reoisomeric
- st3reoisomeric
- steeeoisomeric
- stedeoisomeric
Etymology of STEREOISOMERIC
The word "stereoisomeric" is derived from two main terms: "stereo-" and "isomeric".
1. "Stereo-" comes from the Greek word "stereos", meaning "solid" or "solidity". In scientific and linguistic contexts, "stereo-" is commonly used to denote solidness, three-dimensionality, or spatial orientation.
2. "Isomeric" is derived from the Greek prefix "iso-", which means "equal" or "same", and the word "meros", meaning "part". In chemistry, it is used to describe compounds that have the same molecular formula but different structural arrangements.
When combined, "stereoisomeric" describes compounds that have the same molecular formula and connectivity but differ in their three-dimensional arrangement or spatial orientation.
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