Isomers: Structural and Stereo

Isomers

Compounds with the same molecular formula but different structural or spatial arrangements.

Structural Isomers

Isomers with the same molecular formula but different bonding arrangements of atoms.

Molecular Formula

Chemical formula showing the number and type of each atom in a molecule (e.g., C5H{12}).

Geometric Isomers

Isomers resulting from different arrangements of groups around a double bond (cis and trans).

Cis Isomer

Geometric isomer where substituents are on the same side of the double bond.

Trans Isomer

Geometric isomer where substituents are on opposite sides of the double bond.

Optical Isomers

Isomers that are non-superimposable mirror images of each other (chiral molecules).

Chirality

Property of a molecule that exists in non-superimposable mirror-image forms.

Asymmetric Carbon

Carbon atom bonded to four different atoms or groups, making it a chiral center.

Optical Rotation

Rotation of the plane of polarized light when passing through a solution containing an optical isomer.

d/l Isomers

Optical isomers that rotate plane-polarized light to the right (dextrorotatory, d) or left (levorotatory, l).

Ball-and-Stick Model

Molecular model representing atoms as balls and bonds as sticks.

Stereoisomers

Isomers that differ in the spatial arrangement of atoms, not in the order of bonding.