isomerism

stereoisomerism

occurs when molecules have the same constitution but different spacial arrangement

types of stereoisomerism

• cis/trans

• optical

optical isomerism

• the type of isomerism that occurs when four different atoms or groups are attached to a single carbon atom

• carbon atom is saturated, with four single bonds

• the central carbon atom is assymetric and a chiral center

enantiomers

• non super-imposable images of each other

• a pair of optical isomers

optical activity

• the ability of a substance to rotate the plane of plane-polarised light

• the two enantiomers rotate it by equal amounts in opposite directions

properties of enantiomers

• generally identical physical properties, except for their effect on plane-polarised light

• generally identical chemical properties unless reacting with another chiral/optically active substance

plane-polarised light/monochromatic light

light in which all vibrations are restricted to one plane

chiral compound

a compound with no plane of symmetry and that has an isomer that is a non-superimposable mirror image