Stereoisomers

• What are stereoisomers?

  Stereoisomers are molecules that have the same molecular formula and connectivity of atoms, but differ in the arrangement of atoms in space.
• When do optical isomers occur?

  non superimposable mirror images

  chiral molecules have at least one ‘chiral centre’
• What does non-superimposable mean?

  2 molecules which cannot fit on top of one another + match exactly
• What is a chiral centre?

  A chiral centre is an atom in a molecule that is bonded to four different groups, resulting in non-superimposable mirror images.
• What is achiral?

  A central atom which is connected to at least 2 of the same groups
• What are enantiomers?

  Mirror-image isomers That are non-imposable
• What are optically active molecules?

  Molecules which for optical isomers and cause rotation of plane polarised light