CORN law

The CORN law is the rule that allows to distinquish enantiomers from each other. In other words, it determines whether the amino acid is a L-isomer or D-isomer. All amino acids have the same core and differ due to their side chain. There are four different groups attached to α-carbon, making α-amino acids chiral. These groups are: carboxylic acid group (-COO^-), amino group (-NH₂), a hydrogen atom and a distinctive R group (representation of side chain).

The CORN is an acronym for -COOH , the -R and -NH₂ groups. If the carboxyl group is followed by the R group and the amino group in a clockwise direction, then the amino acid is an L-isomer. If the movement is in the anticlockwise direction, the amino acid is a D-isomer.