Concept explainers
(a)
Interpretation:
Whether the given pair of molecules are identical, or enantiomers should be determined.
Concept Introduction:
Identical molecules are the ones with no isomers, neither constitutional isomers nor stereoisomers. Identical molecules have the same structural arrangement of atoms and the same three-dimensional arrangement.
Isomers are the molecules with the same formula but either with different structural arrangement (constitutional isomers) or different three-dimensional arrangement (stereoisomers).
A tetrahedral carbon atom bonded to four different groups is called a chiral center. A Molecule having at least one chiral center is a chiral molecule. Molecules that do not have any chiral centers are called achiral. Identical molecules do not have any chiral centers; therefore, they are achiral.
When the mirror images of a chiral molecule are not superimposable, those mirror images become stereoisomers called enantiomers.
(b)
Interpretation:
Whether the given pair of molecules are identical, or enantiomers should be determined.
Concept Introduction:
Identical molecules are the ones with the same chemical formula but no isomers, neither constitutional isomers nor stereoisomers. Identical molecules have the same structural arrangement of atoms and the same three-dimensional arrangement.
Isomers are the molecules with the same formula but either with different structural arrangement (constitutional isomers) or different three-dimensional arrangement (stereoisomers).
A tetrahedral carbon atom bonded to four different groups is called a chiral center. A Molecule having at least one chiral center is a chiral molecule. Molecules that do not have any chiral centers are called achiral. Identical molecules do not have any chiral centers; therefore, they are achiral.
When the mirror images of a chiral molecule are not superimposable, those mirror images become stereoisomers called enantiomers.
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General, Organic, & Biological Chemistry
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