isomers
Same atoms, different arrangements
Isomers are chemical compounds that share the same molecular formula but differ in how their atoms are arranged.
Two molecules might contain identical numbers of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms yet behave differently because those atoms connect in different patterns or orientations.
Glucose and fructose are isomers—both C₆H₁₂O₆, but with distinct structures and properties.
Mirror-image non-superimposability
- asymmetricNot identical on both sides
- handednessPreferred limb dominance
- superimposableAble to overlay exactly
- specific rotationStandardized optical activity measure
Spatially distinct molecular forms
- enantiomersMirror-image molecular pairs
- constitutionalHealth-promoting walk
- geometricRelating to mathematical shapes
- conformationalRelating to spatial arrangement
cis-trans · positional · structural · optical
On this side
- transPrefix for across
- axialAlong a rotation line
- equatorialOf Earth's central line
- chair conformationStable hexagonal carbon arrangement
gauche · anti · eclipsed · staggered · Fischer projection · Haworth projection
Mirror-image molecular pairs
- bioactiveAffecting living tissue
- thalidomideSedative causing fetal deformities
- ibuprofenAnti-inflammatory pain reliever
- pharmacokineticsDrug fate in body
State of balance
- catalysisAccelerating reactions without consumption
- rearrangementAltered ordering of elements
Stable but not permanently
- excitationStimulation of response
- gamma decayNucleus emits electromagnetic radiation
- half-lifePeriod for fifty-percent reduction
chirality
Mirror-image non-superimposability
- asymmetricNot identical on both sides
- handednessPreferred limb dominance
- superimposableAble to overlay exactly
stereoisomers
Spatially distinct molecular forms
- enantiomersMirror-image molecular pairs
- constitutionalHealth-promoting walk
- geometricRelating to mathematical shapes
conformational · cis-trans · positional · structural · optical
cis
On this side
- transPrefix for across
- axialAlong a rotation line
- equatorialOf Earth's central line
chair conformation · gauche · anti · eclipsed · staggered · Fischer projection · Haworth projection
enantiomers
Mirror-image molecular pairs
- bioactiveAffecting living tissue
- thalidomideSedative causing fetal deformities
- ibuprofenAnti-inflammatory pain reliever
equilibrium
State of balance
- catalysisAccelerating reactions without consumption
- rearrangementAltered ordering of elements
metastable
Stable but not permanently
- excitationStimulation of response
- gamma decayNucleus emits electromagnetic radiation
- half-lifePeriod for fifty-percent reduction
ketose
Ketone-bearing simple sugar
- chemistryatom, atoms, organic chemistry, molecule, chemistry
- organic chemistrybenzene ring, carbon chain, carbon compounds, hydrocarbons, hydrocarbon
- Inorganic Chemistrytransition metals, periodic table, ligand field theory, alkali metals, noble gases
- drug discoverycompounds, SAR, scaffolds, inhibitors, agonists
- vitaminsvitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin C
- chemical bondingcovalent bonds, ionic bonds, hydrogen bonds, double bonds, single bonds
isomersisotopes
Atomic number twins
allotropes · homologs · polymers · monomers · enantiomers
- isometric holdSustained muscular contraction without movement
- cis-trans isomersMolecules differing by spatial orientation
- isometric view3D depiction with equal axis angles
- isometric drawingTechnical illustration without perspective
cis-trans isomers, isomer, isometric, isomerization, isomerized