Sztereoizomer

Sztereoizomer is a term used in chemistry to describe two or more molecules that have the same molecular formula and sequence of bonded atoms but differ in the three-dimensional orientation of their atoms in space. This means that the sztereoizomer molecules have the same arrangement of atoms and bonds, but the spatial arrangement of these atoms is not the same.

In other words, sztereoizomer molecules are non-superimposable mirror images of each other, similar to how left and right hands are mirror images of each other. This occurs when there is a chiral center, also known as an asymmetric carbon atom, present in the molecule. Chiral centers are atoms that have four different groups attached to them, which makes it impossible to superimpose the molecule and its mirror image onto each other.

There are two types of sztereoizomer molecules: enantiomers and diastereomers. Enantiomers are a pair of sztereoizomers that are non-superimposable mirror images of each other. Diastereomers, on the other hand, are that are not enantiomers but are still not superimposable.

Sztereoizomer molecules have important implications in chemistry, particularly in the fields of pharmacology, biochemistry, and materials science. Many biological molecules, such as proteins and sugars, exhibit sztereoizomerism, and their specific three-dimensional structure determines their function and activity. Understanding sztereoizomerism and its effects on the properties of molecules is crucial in developing new pharmaceuticals and materials.