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Organic Chemistry: Stereochemistry and Functional Groups

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  • What are enantiomers?
    Enantiomers are stereoisomers that are non-superimposable mirror images of each other.
  • How do you identify a chiral center?
    A chiral center is a carbon atom bonded to four different groups.
  • What is the difference between enantiomers and diastereomers?
    Enantiomers are mirror images, while diastereomers are stereoisomers that are not mirror images.
  • What is the Cahn-Ingold-Prelog (CIP) priority rule?
    Assign priority to substituents based on atomic number; higher atomic number gets higher priority.
  • How do you assign R or S configuration to a chiral center?
    Orient the lowest priority group away, then determine if the sequence 1-2-3 is clockwise (R) or counterclockwise (S).
  • What is a meso compound?
    A meso compound has multiple chiral centers but is achiral due to an internal plane of symmetry.
  • What is the physical property difference between enantiomers?
    Enantiomers have identical physical properties except for the direction they rotate plane-polarized light.
  • What is the physical property difference between diastereomers?
    Diastereomers have different physical and chemical properties.
  • What is the significance of the Fischer projection in stereochemistry?
    Fischer projections represent 3D stereochemistry in 2D, with horizontal lines as wedges and vertical lines as dashes.
  • How do you determine if a Fischer projection is R or S?
    Assign priorities, then rotate the molecule to place the lowest priority group in the back before assigning R or S.
  • What is the difference between functional groups and positional isomers?
    Functional group isomers differ in the type of functional group; positional isomers differ in the position of the same group.
  • What are diastereomers in cyclic compounds?
    Diastereomers in cyclic compounds differ in the spatial arrangement of substituents, such as cis and trans isomers.
  • What is the rule for assigning priority when two atoms are the same?
    Compare the next atoms along the chain until a difference is found to assign priority.
  • What is the importance of the lowest priority group orientation in CIP rules?
    The lowest priority group must be oriented away from the observer to correctly assign R or S.
  • What is the difference between optical activity of enantiomers and meso compounds?
    Enantiomers are optically active; meso compounds are optically inactive due to internal symmetry.
  • How do you identify diastereomers in molecules with multiple chiral centers?
    Diastereomers differ at one or more chiral centers but are not mirror images.
  • What is the physical property used to distinguish enantiomers experimentally?
    Enantiomers rotate plane-polarized light in opposite directions.
  • What is the difference between a racemic mixture and a pure enantiomer?
    A racemic mixture contains equal amounts of enantiomers and is optically inactive; a pure enantiomer is optically active.
  • What is the role of functional groups in organic molecules?
    Functional groups determine the chemical reactivity and properties of organic molecules.
  • How do you distinguish between different functional groups in organic chemistry?
    By identifying characteristic atoms or bonds, such as hydroxyl, carbonyl, or amino groups.