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Useful Concepts | ![]() |
Compounds that have the same molecular
formula but different chemical
structures are called isomers.
Depending on what types of differences there are between the
structures,
it is possible to classify isomers into various sub-types.
If you "click" on the named boxes there is a link to a definition and
an example.
Constitutional (or structural) isomers differ in the order in which the atoms are connected so they contain different functional groups and / or bonding patterns:
Conformational isomers (or conformers or rotamers) are stereoisomers produced by rotation about sigma bonds, typically rapidly interconverting at room temperature:
Geometric isomers are configurational isomers that differ in the spatial position around a bond with restricted rotation (e.g. a double bond):
Optical isomers are configurational isomers that differ in the 3D relationship of the substituents about one or more atoms:
Enantiomers are optical isomers that are non-superimposable mirror images.
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© Dr. Ian Hunt, Department of Chemistry, University of Calgary | ![]() |
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