Atomic orbitals are regions in space around the nucleus of an atom where there is a high probability of finding electrons. They are fundamental to understanding the electronic structure of atoms and the way atoms interact to form molecules. Atomic orbitals provide information about the energy levels and distribution of electrons within an atom. Key…

Valence Bond Theory (VB theory) is a model in chemistry that explains chemical bonding in terms of overlapping atomic orbitals. It was one of the first theories developed to describe how atoms combine to form molecules by sharing electrons. Valence Bond Theory provides a qualitative understanding of covalent bonding and the shapes of molecules based…

The central metal atom (or ion) refers to a metal atom that is the focal point of a coordination complex or a coordination compound. In coordination chemistry, a coordination complex is a molecular entity consisting of a central metal atom or ion surrounded by a set of ligands. These ligands are typically molecules or ions…

Conformational isomerism, also known as conformational analysis, refers to the different spatial arrangements that a molecule can adopt through rotation around single bonds. Conformers, also called conformations or rotamers, are different three-dimensional shapes that the molecule can temporarily assume due to these rotations. Conformational isomerism is a type of stereoisomerism, but it does not involve…

Geometric isomerism, also known as cis-trans isomerism or E-Z isomerism, is a type of stereoisomerism that occurs in compounds with restricted rotation around a double bond or in cyclic compounds. Geometric isomers have the same connectivity of atoms but differ in the arrangement of substituents around the double bond or within a ring. This difference…

Diastereomerism is a type of stereoisomerism where molecules have the same connectivity of atoms but differ in their spatial arrangement due to the presence of multiple chiral centers or the presence of geometric isomerism (cis-trans isomerism). Diastereomers are not mirror images of each other and have different physical properties, chemical reactivity, and interactions. Here are…

Chirality is a property of asymmetry in three-dimensional space, where an object or a molecule cannot be superimposed onto its mirror image. In other words, chiral objects are non-superimposable mirror images, much like your left and right hands. This property is important in various scientific fields, including chemistry, biology, and materials science. Key points about…

Enantiomers are a specific type of stereoisomer that are mirror images of each other and cannot be superimposed. They possess chirality, a property of having non-superimposable mirror images due to the presence of one or more chiral centers. Enantiomers have identical physical properties except for their interaction with plane-polarized light. They are denoted as “R”…

Chiral centers, also known as asymmetric carbon atoms or stereocenters, are carbon atoms in a molecule that are bonded to four different substituents. The presence of a chiral center in a molecule leads to chirality, which is the property of having non-superimposable mirror images and enantiomers. Chiral centers are essential for the formation of chiral…

Chiral molecules are molecules that lack superimposable mirror images and possess chirality due to the presence of one or more chiral centers. Chirality is a property of asymmetry in three-dimensional space, much like the property of being left-handed or right-handed. Chiral molecules are important in various fields, including chemistry, biology, and medicine, due to their…