stereoisomer
Same atoms, different arrangement
A stereoisomer is a molecule that has the same chemical formula and atomic connections as another but differs in how atoms are arranged in three-dimensional space.
Two stereoisomers are like a left hand and right hand—same parts, same connections, but mirror images that can't be superimposed.
The distinction matters in chemistry and pharmacology because stereoisomers often behave differently in biological systems: One stereoisomer of thalidomide treats morning sickness; the other causes birth defects.
Mirror-image molecular variant
- chiral resolutionSeparating mirror-image isomers
- chiral auxiliaryDetachable asymmetric synthesis guide
- asymmetricNot identical on both sides
- handednessPreferred limb dominance
On this side
- transPrefix for across
- geometricRelating to mathematical shapes
- conformationStructural form or arrangement
- conformerOne who follows norms
axial · equatorial · anti · gauche · eclipsed · staggered · tautomer · meso compound
Sedative causing fetal deformities
- pharmacologyStudy of drug actions
- protein foldingChain becoming functional structure
- amino acidProtein's molecular subunit
- sugarCrystalline carbohydrate sweetener
nucleotide · biosynthesis · glycoside · peptide · lipid
enantiomer
Mirror-image molecular variant
- chiral resolutionSeparating mirror-image isomers
- chiral auxiliaryDetachable asymmetric synthesis guide
- asymmetricNot identical on both sides
handedness · mirror image · superimposable · R/S configuration
cis
On this side
- transPrefix for across
- geometricRelating to mathematical shapes
- conformationStructural form or arrangement
conformer · axial · equatorial · anti · gauche · eclipsed · staggered · tautomer · meso compound · Fischer projection
thalidomide
Sedative causing fetal deformities
- pharmacologyStudy of drug actions
- protein foldingChain becoming functional structure
- amino acidProtein's molecular subunit
sugar · nucleotide · biosynthesis · glycoside · peptide · lipid
specific rotation
Standardized optical activity measure
- resolutionFormal decision or determination
- molecular formsenantiomer, tautomer, conformer, meso compound
- Stereochemistrychirality, enantiomer, conformer, axial, equatorial
- mirror imagesreflection, reverse image, flip, inversion, water reflection
- chemical groupsmethyl, amino, ethyl, carboxyl, phenyl
- molecular diagramsskeletal structure, molecular model, Fischer projection, Haworth projection, space-filling
isotope, isomer, isosceles, isothermal, isomers, stereophonic, isomerization, isobaric, stereoscope