Stereoisomer

Stereoisomers are a type of isomersism that has the same molecular formulae and the same connection of bonds but differ in the arrangement of the bonds in space.

There are two types of Stereoisomers-

Cis/Trans or E/Z- These require a double bond and different functional groups either side of the double bond. The double bond restricts the movement of the functional groups if the same functional groups are on the same side it is a cis or z isomer if they alternate they are a Trans or E isomer.

Optical Isomers- These require a chiral carbon (a carbon with 4 different functional groups attached) the way these functional groups are arranged it forms non-superimposable mirror images of each other. Each optical isomer has the same physical properties except the plane in which rotate to polarise light and how they interact with other optical isomers.