BOOKLET OF

TERMS
Group 3
2n rule – an equation used to find out
the number of maximum
stereoisomers, based on n (the number
of stereocenters).

achiral – superposable on its mirror

image

binding site - a region where

molecules bind and undergo chemical
reactions.

chiral – not superposable on its mirror

image

conformational isomer - is a form of

stereoisomerism in which
the isomers can be interconverted
exclusively by rotations about formally
single bonds

constitutional isomer - are

compounds that have the same
molecular formula and different
connectivity

dextrorotatory - light rotates

clockwise as it approaches an observer

diastereomers – stereoisomers whose

molecules are not mirror images of
each other and non-superimposable

enantiomers - are chiral molecules

that are mirror images of one another
and are non-superimposable on one
another.

isomer – each of two or more

compounds with the same formula but
a different arrangement of atoms in the
molecule and different properties

levorotatory – light rotates

counterclockwise
mirror image – is a reflected
duplication of an object that appears
almost identical, but is reversed in the
direction perpendicular to the mirror
surface.

optically active - any molecule that

can't be superimposed on its mirror
image

plane of symmetry - is an
imaginary plane that bisects a
molecule into halves that are mirror
images of each other

plane-polarized light -
are light waves in which the vibrations
occur in a single plane

polarimeter - an instrument for

measuring the polarization of light, and
especially (in chemical analysis) for
determining the effect of a substance
in rotating the plane of polarization of
light.

R/S system – a stereochemistry

nomenclature which is also called as
CIP priority rules. It is used to describe
which parts of the molecule should be
considered first and to show the optical
rotation of the 1st ,2nd , and 3rd priority
in a compound

racemic mixture - is one that has

equal amounts of left- and right-handed
enantiomers of a chiral molecule

specific rotation - specific rotation is

a property of a chiral chemical
compound

stereocenter – an atom bearing

groups of such nature that an
interchange of any two groups will
produce a stereoisomer
stereoisomer – same molecular
formula, same connectivity of atoms,
but different arrangement of atoms in
space

structural isomer - is a form of

isomerism in which molecules with the
same molecular formula have bonded
together in different orders, as opposed
to stereoisomerism