STEREOISOMERS Meaning and
Definition
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Stereoisomers refer to a class of isomers, which are molecules that have the same chemical formula but differ in the arrangement or spatial orientation of atoms. Stereoisomers possess the same sequence of bonded atoms; however, their atoms are oriented differently in three-dimensional space. This spatial arrangement leads to distinct chemical and physical properties.
There are two main types of stereoisomers: enantiomers and diastereomers. Enantiomers are mirror images of each other and are non-superimposable, like a person's left and right hands. These molecules have identical physical and chemical properties except for their interaction with chiral environments, such as enzymes or receptors. Diastereomers, on the other hand, are stereoisomers that are not mirror images of each other. They have different physical and chemical properties and can be distinguished by differences in boiling points, melting points, or solubilities.
Stereoisomerism arises due to the presence of chiral or stereogenic centers in a molecule. A chiral center is an atom (usually carbon) that is attached to four different groups. This configuration gives rise to two distinct stereoisomers: the enantiomers. The number of stereoisomers that can be formed depends on the number of chiral centers present in a molecule.
Stereoisomerism plays a crucial role in the field of pharmaceuticals, as enantiomers can often exhibit different biological activities or interact with enzymes in diverse ways. Therefore, the separation and identification of stereoisomers are important in medicinal chemistry and drug development.
Common Misspellings for STEREOISOMERS
- atereoisomers
- ztereoisomers
- xtereoisomers
- dtereoisomers
- etereoisomers
- wtereoisomers
- srereoisomers
- sfereoisomers
- sgereoisomers
- syereoisomers
- s6ereoisomers
- s5ereoisomers
- stwreoisomers
- stsreoisomers
- stdreoisomers
- strreoisomers
- st4reoisomers
- st3reoisomers
- steeeoisomers
- stedeoisomers
Etymology of STEREOISOMERS
The word "stereoisomer" is derived from two components: "stereo-" and "isomer".
1. "Stereo-" comes from the Greek word "stereos", meaning solid or three-dimensional. In chemistry, it refers to the spatial arrangement of atoms or groups around a central atom. It is used to describe the relative positions of atoms or groups in a molecule.
2. "Isomer" is derived from the Greek root "iso-", meaning equal, and "meros", meaning part. In chemistry, an isomer refers to compounds with the same molecular formula but different structural arrangements or spatial orientation of atoms.
Combining these two components, "stereoisomer" refers to a type of isomerism where molecules have the same connectivity of atoms but differ in their three-dimensional arrangement.
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