CH 320M Chapter Notes - Chapter 3: Chymotrypsin, Polarimeter, Hydrolysis
Document Summary
Stereochemistry - study of molecules as 3d objects. Mirror image - reflection of an object in a mirror. Chiral - objects that are not superposable [identical] on their mirror images. Achiral - when an object and its mirror image are superposable ex: perfect sphere. Plane of symmetry - an imaginary plane passing through an object dividing it so that one half is the mirror image of the other half. Center of symmetry - a point so situated that identical components of the object or molecule are located equidistant and on opposite sides from the point along any axis passing through that point. Isomers are different compounds with the same molecular formula. Constitutional isomers - same molecular formula but a different connectivity of atoms in their molecules. Stereoisomers - same molecular formula and the same connectivity but different orientations of their atoms in space. Configurational isomers - isomers that differ by the configuration of substituents on an atom.