stereochemistry

[ ster-ee-oh-kem-uh-stree, steer- ]

noun

1. the branch of chemistry that deals with the determination of the relative positions in space of the atoms or groups of atoms in a compound and with the effects of these positions on the properties of the compound.

stereochemistry

/ ˌstɪər-; ˌstɛrɪəʊˈkɛmɪstrɪ /

noun

1. the study of the spatial arrangement of atoms in molecules and the effect of spatial arrangement on chemical properties

stereochemistry

/ stĕr′ē-ō-kĕm′ĭ-strē /

1. The branch of chemistry that deals with the spatial arrangements of atoms in molecules and with the chemical and physical effects of these arrangements.

Other Words From

• ster·e·o·chem·ic [ster-ee-oh-, kem, -ik, steer-], stere·o·chemi·cal adjective
• stere·o·chemi·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of stereochemistry¹

First recorded in 1885–90; stereo- + chemistry

Example Sentences

Subsequent investigation into the absolute stereochemistry confirmed the D-ribose configuration, thereby reinforcing the planar structure of this compound.

From Science Daily

This discovery became the foundation of a subdiscipline of chemistry known as stereochemistry, which is the study of the spatial arrangement of atoms within molecules.

From Salon

Nevertheless, achieving highly enantioselective photochirogenesis is not a trivial matter, because excited molecules are short-lived and highly reactive, and because it is difficult to precisely control the stereochemistry — the geometrical arrangement of groups in a molecule — of products formed from reactions of excited molecules.

From Nature

To add to the challenge, the orientation in which new C–C bonds are installed — the stereochemistry of the reaction — affects the overall shape of the final molecule3, which in turn can affect the molecule’s function in applications.

From Nature

This is followed by a ‘desymmetrization’ reaction10, which generates a carboxylic acid and sets the absolute stereochemistry in the resulting product.

From Nature