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Isomerism vs Stereoisomerism - What's the difference?

isomerism | stereoisomerism | Derived terms |

Stereoisomerism is a derived term of isomerism.



In chemistry terms the difference between isomerism and stereoisomerism

is that isomerism is the interconversion of isomers while stereoisomerism is a form of isomerism in which atoms are arranged differently about a chiral centre (or centre of asymmetry); they exhibit optical activity; in a molecule with a single chiral centre the two isomers (enantiomers) are mirror images of each other; in a molecule with multiple chiral centres the isomers (diastereoisomers) are not normally mirror images.

isomerism

English

Noun

(-)
  • (chemistry) the phenomenon of the existence of isomers - the existence of different substances with the same molecular formulae
  • (chemistry) the interconversion of isomers

    • Derived terms

    * structural isomerism * geometric isomerism = cis-trans isomerism * optical isomerism or stereoisomerism

    See also

    * tautomerism

    stereoisomerism

    English

    (wikipedia stereoisomerism)

    Noun

  • (chemistry) A form of isomerism in which atoms are arranged differently about a chiral centre (or centre of asymmetry); they exhibit optical activity; in a molecule with a single chiral centre the two isomers (enantiomers) are mirror images of each other; in a molecule with multiple chiral centres the isomers (diastereoisomers) are not normally mirror images.

    • Synonyms

    * optical isomerism

    See also

    * structural isomerism * geometric isomerism