Skip to main content
Chemistry LibreTexts

Configuration

  • Page ID
    39371
  • \( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \) \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)\(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)\(\newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)

    In organic chemistry configuration means time-independent relative disposition of atoms and groups in space within a molecular species.

    eg:

    condensationreaction1.png

    Compounds 1 and 2 have the same atoms: two carbon atoms, two hydrogen atoms, and two chlorine atoms. They have the same connectivity: each carbon atom is doublly bonded to the other and bears a hydrogen atom and a chlorine atom. However, in 1 the two hydrogen atoms are on the same side of the double bond; so are the two chlorine atoms. In 2 the two hydrogen atoms are on the opposite sides of the double bond; so are the two chlorine atoms. Since there is no free rotation around a double bond, the above relationships of atoms in 1 and 2 do not change with time. In other words, 1 and 2 can not be interconverted by rotation around the double bond. Compounds 1 and 2 are said to have different configurations.

    see also conformation


    This page titled Configuration is shared under a All Rights Reserved (used with permission) license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Gamini Gunawardena via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform; a detailed edit history is available upon request.

    • Was this article helpful?