McMurry (kap. 5.0 - 5.1) Flashcards
what does the term superimposable mirror image of each other mean, and how can you imply the term?
“ikke kan overlægges” spejlbilleder.
When you have a right hand, and the mirror image of that right hand looks like a left hand, these two are nonsuperimposable of each other.
Why are the term of handedness important when talking about organic and biological chemistry?
Many drugs and most of the molecules in our body are “handed” meaning, they are nonsuperimposable of each others mirror images.
Why is molecular “handedness” important in the body?
Think of receptors
It makes possible the precise interactions between enzymes, and their substrates, that are involved in the hundreds of thousands of chemical interactions on which life is based.
What causes molecular handedness?
A chiral c-atom is responsible for the handedness.
A c-atom is chiral when it is bound to 4 different groups.
What is it about the chiral c-atoms that makes them handed?
Because the mirror image of the chiral c-atom results in a molecule that is not identical to the original molecule.
What is the mirror image of the chiral c-atom called? a molecule with one chiral atom.
The mirror image of the chiral c-atom in an molecule is called enantiomer.
Molecules that are not identical to their mirror images “sterioisomers” are called enantiomers.
can you superimpose two molecules that are enantiomers?
No, never. There will always be two groups that wont match up.
