stereoisomerism
|ster-eo-i-so-mer-ism|
🇺🇸
/ˌstɛri.oʊˈaɪ.səˌmɪr.ɪzəm/
🇬🇧
/ˌstɪəri.əʊˈaɪ.səˌmɪər.ɪzəm/
same atoms, different spatial arrangement
Etymology
'stereoisomerism' originates from Greek, specifically the words 'stereos' meaning 'solid' and 'isomerēs' meaning 'having equal parts.' The suffix '-ism' denotes a process or condition.
'stereoisomerism' was formed in the 19th century from the combination of 'stereo-' and 'isomerism' as chemistry advanced and the concept of spatial arrangement of atoms became important.
Initially, it referred specifically to the spatial arrangement of atoms in molecules, and this meaning has remained consistent in modern chemistry.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a type of isomerism in which compounds have the same molecular formula and sequence of bonded atoms (constitution), but differ in the three-dimensional orientations of their atoms in space.
Stereoisomerism is important in the study of organic chemistry.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/06 03:38