Chirality

chiral

a molecule with a non-superimposable mirror image (they are different)

achiral

a molecule with a superimposable mirror image (they are the same)

cause of chirality in a molecule

an asymmetric center

asymmetric/chiral center

an atom bonded to four different groups

enantiomers

non-superimposable mirror-image molecules

whats another name for asymmetric center

stereocenter

stereocenter (stereogenic)

has an asymmetric center and the interchange of two groups produces a cis to a trans isomer (and vice versa)

are all stereocenters asymmetric centers?

no

are all asymmetric centers stereocenters?

yes

whats the max amount of stereoisomers a compound can have?

2ⁿ where n is the number of asymmetric centers

diastereomers

a configurational stereoisomer that isn’t an enantiomer