summary

Summary StereoisomersStereoisomers:isomers that have same formula and connectivity butdiffer in the position of the atoms in space. They possess one or more stereocenters. StereocenterStereocenter: a carbon atom bearing 4 different atoms or group of atoms. ChiralChiral:any molecule that is nonsuperposable with its mirror image. EnantiomersEnantiomers: stereoisomers that are non superposable mirror images. Racemic mixtureRacemic mixture: a 1:1 (equimolar) mixture of two enantiomers. Optically ActiveOptically Active:the ability of some compounds to rotate plane polarized light.