3) Types of stereoisomers

What are enantiomers?

A chiral molecule (molecule that cannot overlap) and you make the mirror image

When drawing enantiomers, what is an easy way?

Keep the molecule in the same exact orientation but swap ALL dashes and wedges!

What is a racemic mixture?

A solution of 2 enantiomers (50-50)

What does achiral mean?

A molecule that can be superimposed (overlapped) on its mirror image + plane of symmetry

What can we classify as achiral?

Any object that has NOT 4 unique things bonded to a carbon

What is a plane of symmetry?

A mirror plane that cuts a molecule in half, so that one half of the molecule is a reflection of the other half

What are diastereomers?

Stereoisomers that are NOT mirror images of each other; not the mirror image and NOT the original molecule

What is a Meso compound?

Has stereogenic/chiral center but is achiral; only happens if the molecule has a plane of symmetry

How many stereogenic centers do Meso compounds need to get a plane of symmetry?

2 chiral centers

When counting the total amount of stereoisomers, does identical count?

No, subtract one: 2^n -1

Side note:

you can 10² stereogenic centers, ONE enantiomer, and tons of diastereomers