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In chemistry, isomers are molecules or polyatomic ions with identical molecular formula – that is, the same number of atoms of each element – but distinct arrangements of atoms in space. [1] Isomerism refers to the existence or possibility of isomers. Isomers do not necessarily share similar chemical or physical properties.
The isomerization energy, for example, for converting from a stable cis isomer to the less stable trans isomer is greater than for the reverse reaction, explaining why in the absence of isomerases or an outside energy source such as ultraviolet radiation a given cis isomer tends to be present in greater amounts than the trans isomer.
In chemistry, isomerization or isomerisation is the process in which a molecule, polyatomic ion or molecular fragment is transformed into an isomer with a different chemical structure. [1] Enolization is an example of isomerization, as is tautomerization. [2] When the isomerization occurs intramolecularly it may be called a rearrangement reaction.
[5] [6] Examples of the latter are the enantiomers, whose molecules are mirror images of each other, and the cis and trans versions of 2-butene. Among the structural isomers, one can distinguish several classes including skeletal isomers, positional isomers (or regioisomers), functional isomers, tautomers, [7] and structural isotopomers. [8]
These include meso compounds, cis–trans isomers, E-Z isomers, and non-enantiomeric optical isomers. Diastereomers seldom have the same physical properties. In the example shown below, the meso form of tartaric acid forms a diastereomeric pair with both levo- and dextro-tartaric acids, which form an enantiomeric pair.
For example, butane has three conformers relating to its two methyl (CH 3) groups: two gauche conformers, which have the methyls ±60° apart and are enantiomeric, and an anti conformer, where the four carbon centres are coplanar and the substituents are 180° apart (refer to free energy diagram of butane).
Another example of this is the relationship between oleic acid and elaidic acid; oleic acid, the cis isomer, has a melting point of 13.4 °C, making it a liquid at room temperature, while the trans isomer, elaidic acid, has the much higher melting point of 43 °C, due to the straighter trans isomer being able to pack more tightly, and is solid ...
The two tautomers of an amino acid: (1) neutral and (2) zwitterionic forms In chemistry, tautomers (/ ˈ t ɔː t ə m ər /) [1] are structural isomers (constitutional isomers) of chemical compounds that readily interconvert.