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

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

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

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

• Isomer
• Geometric isomer
• Optical isomer
• Chirality (chemistry)
• Biochemistry

References

Stereoisomers Resources
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