Chemical Forums
Chemistry Forums for Students => Organic Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: FictionDurden on October 19, 2004, 12:39:53 AM
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For an upcoming exam, I will have to compare and contrast absolute and relative configurations. The problem is, I need 3 compares and 3 contrasts for these configurations. I am not totally sure of what absolute and relative configurations are. I can only think of 1 contrast, and that is their definitions. *delete me*
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Think about the other implications of the definitions.
Why don't you start by telling us the definitions and we can help you from there.
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Absolute configuration - the detailed stereochemical picture of a molecule, including how the atoms are arranged in space. Alternatively, the (R) and (S) configuration at each chirality center.
Relative configuration - the experimentally determined relationship between the configurations of two molecules, even though we may not know the absolute configuration of either.
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Okay, good.
So for one, suppose you had a molecule and you knew the relative configuration of two of the groups. What difference would it make if you knew the absolute configuration?
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You wouldn't have to do an experiment?
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You would. But what is a very simple experiment that you could do to distinguish a molecule that has an absolute configuration from a molecule where you only know the relative configuration (if the two molecules are the same otherwise).