Chemistry A-Level
enantiomers
What enantiomers means in Chemistry A-Level, as defined for AQA, OCR.
Definitions of enantiomers
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Reference: AQA
Optical isomers that exist as non-superimposable mirror images and differ in their effect on plane polarised light.
Non-superimposable mirror images, which arise when a carbon atom carries four different groups.
Two forms of a chiral molecule that are non-superimposable mirror images of each other.
Two optical isomers that are related as non-superimposable mirror images of each other.
Topics that use enantiomers
- Enzymes (A-level only) (AQA A-Level)
- Optical isomerism (A-level only) (AQA A-Level)
- Amino acids, amides and chirality (OCR A-Level)
Related terms
- chirality
- Optical isomerism
- racemic mixture
- stereoisomerism
- Acid–base reaction of the COOH group
- active site
- Amide and ester formation
- attack from either side
Using enantiomers in the exam
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