Stereochemistry is the study of the three dimensional shape of molecules and the effects of shape upon the properties of molecules. The term stereochemistry is derived from the Greek word stereos, which means solid.
Assuming that the all reactants are present, inorganic reactions are chiefly governed by temperature, that is, temperature is critical to determining whether or not a particular reaction will proceed. In biological reactions, however, the shape of the molecules becomes the critical factor. Small changes in the shape or alignment of molecules can determine whether or not a reaction will proceed. In…
Some compounds differ only in their shape or orientation in space. Compounds that have the same molecular formula are called isomers. Stereoisomers are isomers (i.e., they have the same molecular weight and formula) but that differ in their orientation in space. No matter how a stereoisomer is rotated it presents a different picture than its stereoisomer counterpart. Most importantly, stereoisomer…
Symmetry is a term used to describes molecules with equal parts. When a molecule is symmetrical it has portions that correspond in shape, size, and structure so Figure 1. Illustration by Hans & Cassidy. Courtesy of Gale Group. Figure 2. Illustration by Hans & Cassidy. Courtesy of Gale Group. that they could be mapped or transposed on one another. Bilateral symmetry m…
A molecule is said to be chiral if it lacks symmetry and its mirror images are not superimposable. To be chiral a molecule must lack symmetry, that is, a chiral molecule can not have any type or symmetry. Chiral carbon atoms are also assigned an R and S designation. Although the rules for determining this designation can be complex, for simple molecules and compounds with chiral carbons the determ…
Sometimes it is difficult to tell whether or not two molecules or complexes will exhibit stereochemical properties. If two molecules or complexes have the same molecular formula they are candidates for stereochemical analysis. The first step is to determine if the two molecules or complexes are superimposable. If they are then are identical structures and will not exhibit stereochemical properties…
The three-dimensional structure of a molecule determines its physical properties, such as the temperature at which it turns from a liquid to a gas (boiling point) and the temperature at which it changes from a solid to a liquid (melting point). The geometric structure of a molecule is also responsible for its chemical properties, such as its strength as an acid or base. The compound trans-1,2-dich…
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