3.3 Stereochemistry

Question 1

Isomers

Answer 1

Molecules that have the same molecular formula but different structural formula

Question 2

Structural Isomers

Answer 2

Occur when the atoms are bonded together in a different order in each isomer

Question 3

Stereoisomers

Answer 3

Occur when the order of the bonding in the atoms is the same but the spatial arrangement of the atoms is different in each isomer.

Question 4

Types of Stereoisomer

Answer 4

Geometric and Optical (enantiomers)

Question 5

Racemic Mixture

Answer 5

When optical isomers are mixed in equal amounts, they are optically inactive because the rotational effect of the plane-polarised light cancels out

Question 6

Chiral Carbon

Answer 6

Carbons with four different functional groups attached

Question 7

When do geometric isomers occur?

Answer 7

When there is restricted rotation in a cyclic compound

Question 8

Where do optical isomers occur?

Answer 8

In compounds with four different groups arranged tetrahedrally around chiral carbon