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Isomers in Carbohydrates?

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ameliaa.bedeliaa's picture
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Joined: Oct 2008
Isomers in Carbohydrates?

So i have to distinguish between structural optical isomers in carbohydrates.
What I'm reading is saying that structural isomers' atoms are linked in different sequences, and optical isomers are identical in every way but are mirror images of each other.
Can someone explain this to me?

Louis323's picture
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pratik1092's picture
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Joined: Jul 2009

Hi There!
Structural isomers are isomers where the arrangements differ giving the substance different properties. Optical isomers (aka enantiomers) look exactly the same in structure but when turned in different angles, they show different properties. This is important in drugs as one enantiomer is the needed one and the other one can have bad side-effects on the body.

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