Stereoisomers
Stereoisomers are a type of isomer where the atoms making up the molecules are the same, but differ in the spatial arrangement of atoms in space. Stereoisomers are categorized into two main types: geometric isomers and optical isomers.
Geometric Isomers[edit | edit source]
Geometric isomers, also known as cis-trans isomers, occur due to the restricted rotation around a bond. The most common type of geometric isomerism is found in compounds with a carbon-carbon double bond. The restricted rotation around the double bond means that some configurations are not possible due to the high energy of the transition state.
Optical Isomers[edit | edit source]
Optical isomers, also known as enantiomers, are molecules that are non-superimposable mirror images of each other. This type of isomerism is due to a molecule having a chiral center, most commonly a carbon atom with four different groups attached to it.
Importance in Biochemistry[edit | edit source]
Stereoisomers are of great importance in biochemistry, as the spatial arrangement of a molecule can greatly affect its biological function. For example, the different enantiomers of a molecule often have different tastes or smells. In addition, one enantiomer of a drug may have the desired therapeutic effect while the other enantiomer may be inactive or even harmful.
See Also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
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