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Chemistry · Glossary

What is Constitution, configuration, conformation?

Also known as: constitutional isomers · stereoisomers · configuration · conformation

Definition 16.1 University Chemistry — Year 1 · Chapter 16 — Stereochemistry in Depth

Two compounds of the same formula whose atoms are joined in a different order are constitutional isomers. Compounds with the same constitution whose atoms differ only in their arrangement in space are stereoisomers. The arrangement that can be changed only by breaking bonds is the configuration of a stereoisomer; an arrangement obtained by rotation about single bonds, without breaking any, is a conformation.

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