Stereoisomerism

The different types of isomers. Stereochemistry focuses on stereoisomers, red boxes in the picture.

In stereochemistry, stereoisomerism, or spatial isomerism, is a form of isomerism in which molecules have the same molecular formula and sequence of bonded atoms (constitution), but differ in the three-dimensional orientations of their atoms in space.^[1]^[2] This contrasts with structural isomers, which share the same molecular formula, but the bond connections or their order differs. By definition, molecules that are stereoisomers of each other represent the same structural isomer.^[3]

^ IUPAC, Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 2nd ed. (the "Gold Book") (1997). Online corrected version: (2006–) "stereoisomerism". doi:10.1351/goldbook.S05983
^ Columbia Encyclopedia. "Stereoisomers" in Encyclopedia.com, n.l., 2005, Link
^ Clark, Jim (November 2012). "Optical isomerism". chemguide.co.uk. Retrieved 2022-08-09.

[1] IUPAC, Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 2nd ed. (the "Gold Book") (1997). Online corrected version: (2006–) "stereoisomerism". doi:10.1351/goldbook.S05983

[2] Columbia Encyclopedia. "Stereoisomers" in Encyclopedia.com, n.l., 2005, Link

[3] Clark, Jim (November 2012). "Optical isomerism". chemguide.co.uk. Retrieved 2022-08-09.

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