Stereochemistry

Stereochemistry refers to the three dimensional arrangement of atoms in molecules, especially those aspects that go beyond the connectivity (which atoms are connected to each other) captured in a Lewis structure. Two molecules that are mirror images of each other (enantiomers) differ in stereochemistry. Another common example are cis and trans double bonds, such as in fatty acids.

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spinqualitylabelsall models Show:Asymmetric Unit Biological Assembly Drag the structure with the mouse to rotate   Export Animated Image

<jmol>

 <jmolButton>
   <target>A</target>
   <script>load $"C[C@H](CC)O"; script applet B @{"load $C[C@@H](CC)O"};</script>
   <text>2-Butanol</text>
 </jmolButton>

<jmol>

 <jmolButton>
   <target>A</target>
   <script>load $"cis-butene"; script applet B @{"load $trans-butene"};</script>
   <text>Butene</text>
 </jmolButton>

<jmol>

 <jmolButton>
   <target>A</target>
   <script>load $"D-Alanine"; script applet B @{"load $alanine"};</script>
   <text>Alanine enantiomers</text>
 </jmolButton>

<jmol>

 <jmolButton>
   <target>A</target>
   <script>load $erythrose; script applet B @{"load $threose"};</script>
   <text>Erythrose vs. Threose</text>
 </jmolButton>