Engineering Chemistry

16

STEREOCHEMISTRY

16.1 INTRODUCTION

The properties of molecules depend on the arrangement of atoms in a molecule. The arrangement of atoms or groups in a molecule is explained by stereochemistry. In Greek, “stereo” means solid/volume/space; hence, stereochemistry means chemistry in space.

Stereochemistry is the branch of chemistry which deals with three-dimensional (3D) structure of molecules and studies the physical, chemical and biological properties of organic molecules.

16.2 ISOMERISM

Organic compounds having the same molecular formula but differing from each other by some of physical or chemical properties or both are known as isomers and the phenomenon is known as isomerism. The term “isomer” was first introduced by Berzelius. In Greek, ...