isomer etymology

Etymology

• Iso- (Greek): Equal, same
• -mer (Greek): Part, portion

Meaning and Origin

The term "isomer" was coined by Swedish chemist Jöns Jacob Berzelius in 1830 to refer to compounds with the same molecular formula but different chemical structures. The word literally means "equal parts" or "same parts," reflecting the fact that isomers have the same number and type of atoms but arranged differently.

Berzelius observed that certain organic compounds, such as tartaric acid and racemic acid, had identical empirical formulas but different physical and chemical properties. He hypothesized that these compounds must have different molecular structures, even though they contained the same elements in the same proportions.

The concept of isomerism has since been greatly expanded to include various types of isomers, such as:

• Structural isomers: Compounds with the same molecular formula but different connectivity of atoms.
• Stereoisomers: Compounds with the same molecular formula and connectivity but different spatial arrangement of atoms in space.
• Enantiomers: Mirror-image isomers that cannot be superimposed on each other.
• Tautomeric isomers: Compounds that can rapidly interconvert between different isomers by transferring a proton.

isomer relate terms

• isomeric

  Etymology Isomer comes from the Greek words isos equal and meros part Meros

• demerit

  Etymology Latin demeritum unworthy deed disgrace From de away meritum m

• emeritus

  Etymology The word emeritus comes from Latin where it means who has served It is de

• isomer

  Etymology Iso Greek Equal same mer Greek Part portion Meaning and Origin Th

• isomeric

  Etymology Isomer comes from the Greek words isos equal and meros part Meros

• meretricious

  Etymology From Latin meretricius meaning of or like a prostitute Ultimately derived

• merism

  Etymology and Origin Merism is a figure of speech that uses two contrasting or contradic

• meristem

  Etymology The word meristem comes from the Greek word meristos which means divisib

• merit

  Etymology Middle English merite from Old French merite from Latin meritum neuter pa

• meritorious

  Etymology Origin Latin Meaning Deserving of praise or reward Word Parts merere

• mero

  Etymology Mero Spanish Mero Portuguese Meaning A type of large marine fish ty

• monomer

  Etymology Mono Greek one or single Mero Greek part Meaning A monomer is a

• Moira

• polymer

  Etymology The word polymer is derived from the Greek words poly meaning many and

• turmeric

  Etymology The word turmeric is derived from the Middle English word turmeryte which

• compound

  Etymology Compound a word formed from two or more root words or morphemes Meaning

• comprehend

  Etymology Etymology is the study of the origin and history of words It involves tracing

• scramble

  Etymology of Scramble The word scramble has multiple etymological origins Old Fre

• demagogue

  Etymology Origin Greek Word demagogos δῆμος dēmos people ἄγω agō

• Easter

  Etymology The word Easter originated from the Old English word Eostre which was the

• Vatican

  Etymology The name Vatican derives from the Latin word Vaticānus which is believed

• smorgasbord

  Etymology The word smorgasbord comes from the Swedish words smör butter and gåsb

• patsy

  Etymology Middle English Patsye Pet form of Patricia Latin for nobleman s daughter