A Study in Chirality
Do You Know...
what an isomer is? Isomers are
different
compounds that
how many kinds of have the same
isomers there are? molecular formula.
(Hint – use your
textbook index.) There are
conformational,
constitutional
(structural), and
stereoisomers.
Conformational Isomers
Parts of the molecule rotate
freely around a single bond
but do not change location on
the molecule.
These isomers will not have
different physical or chemical
properties, since they can
change their shape easily.
Conformational Isomers
H H H H Cl H
| | | | | |
Cl—C—C—C—H H—C—C—C—H
| | | | | |
H H H H H H
Constitutional Isomers
C3H6O can have two different structures.
What are the names of these compounds?
H H H H
| | \ |
O=C—C—C—H C=C—C—OH
| | | / | |
H H H H H H
D C
Stereoisomers
We will now begin
to explore isomers
based on the groups
around specific
carbon atoms
within a molecule.