Q. 13.16 - An Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry

Question

Indicate whether each pair of Fischer projections represents enantiomers or identical structures.

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

Part a) Identical

Part b) Achiral C so mirror image is superimposable thus identical molecule

(Part c) Two molecules that are mirror images of each other, which means that they are enantiomers.

Step 1: Given information (part a)

Step 2: Chiral molecules represents Fischer projection (Part a)

• The structures represent enantiomers because notice the stereoisomers CANNOT be superimposed on top of each other. 
• Both structures are chiral compounds.

Step 3: Find the information( Part b)

Step 4: Chiral molecules( Part b)

• Mirror image of chiral molecule cannot be superimposed so they are enantiomer
• The enantiomers of a chiral molecule are mirror images.
• The enantiomers of a chiral molecule cannot be superimposed on each other
• While mirror image of achiral molecule can be superimposed so they are identical
• Achiral C so mirror image is superimposable thus identical molecule

Step 5: Given information(Part c)

Step 6: Represents enantiomers or identical structure(Part c)

• In this problem, we have to indicate whether given pairs of Fischer projections represent enantiomers or identical structures
• Enantiomers are chiral molecules that are non-superimposable mirror images of each other by any combination of rotations, translations, and some conformational changes. 

• In this example, we have two molecules that are mirror images of each other, which means that they are enantiomers.

Step 7: Given information( Part d)

Step 8: Two molecules of enantiomers( Part d)

In this example, there are two molecules that are mirror images of each other, which means that they are enantiomer