Organic Year 2

Question 1

Structural Isomer

Answer 1

Compounds with the same molecular formula but different structural formula / spacial arrangement

Question 2

Optical Isomer
(enantiomers)

Answer 2

Compounds with the same molecular formula but different structural formula / spacial arrangement. Only occurs when there is a chiral center (when there is an asymmetrical carbon within an organic molecule). Each enantiomer causes polarised light to rotate 90 degrees in opposite directions

Question 3

Chiral center

Answer 3

A carbon atom with 4 DIFFERENT groups/atoms bonded around it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBFJytBk0io

Question 4

Stereoisomer

Answer 4

Same structural formula, different spacial arrangement

Question 5

Racemate

Answer 5

A mixture of equal amounts of enantiomers is called a racemic mixture (racemate). A racemate mixture is optically inactive as the 90 degree rotation from each opposite enantiomer cancels each other out.