Stereospecificity

Stereospecificity refers to a process where a chemical reaction produces a specific three-dimensional arrangement of atoms in a molecule. Molecules can have mirror-image forms called enantiomers, which are like left and right hands. A stereospecific reaction ensures that only one of these forms is created, much like how a glove fits only one hand. This is important in chemistry and pharmaceuticals because different forms can have different effects. Essentially, stereospecificity controls the precise spatial outcome of a reaction, leading to consistent and predictable molecular structures.