optical isomerism

Optical isomerism, also known as enantiomerism, describes molecules with the same chemical formula and connectivity but different spatial arrangements of atoms. These molecules are non-superimposable mirror images of each other, much like a left and right hand. This phenomenon, called chirality, means that while enantiomers share most physical and chemical properties, they differ in how they interact with plane-polarized light, rotating it in opposite directions. This property is crucial in biological systems, as seen in carbohydrates like glyceraldehyde, where different spatial arrangements lead to distinct properties. The distinction between these mirror-image forms is often designated as R (rectus, or right) and S (sinister, or left) using the Cahn-Ingold-Prelog protocol.12