How do enantiomers differ from one another?

1 Answer
anor277
Apr 7, 2016

They are (non-superposable) mirror images.

Explanation:

Suppose you had an identical twin. Could you superimpose your right hand on his left hand? The answer is no, because hands are handed; they have left and right mirror images.

Note that given a chiral molecule, #CR_1R_2R_3R_4#, that is displayed geometrically, the interchange of ANY two substituents, #R_1# for #R_2# or #R_3# for #R_4#, will generate the enantiomer. What will happen if I interchange any 2 groups again?

If you have trouble understanding and visualizing these geometries you are not alone. The best advice is to get a set of molecular models and play with them. Such models are always allowed in examinations. Of course you have to practise how to represent these 3D structures on the 2D page.

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