isomerization
Sign in to saveIn chemistry, isomerization or isomerisation is the process in which a molecule, polyatomic ion or molecular fragment is transformed into an isomer with a different chemical structure. Enolization is an example of isomerization, as is tautomerization.
Article
11 sectionsContents
- Examples and applications
- Alkanes
- Alkenes
- Cis vs trans
- Terminal vs internal
- Other organic examples
- Inorganic and organometallic chemistry
- Biochemistry
- Kinetic classification
- See also
- References
In chemistry, isomerization or isomerisation is the process in which a molecule, polyatomic ion or molecular fragment is transformed into an isomer with a different chemical structure. Enolization is an example of isomerization, as is tautomerization.
When the activation energy for the isomerization reaction is sufficiently small, both isomers can often be observed and the equilibrium ratio will shift in a temperature-dependent equilibrium with each other. Many values of the standard free energy difference, \Delta G^\circ, have been calculated, with good agreement between observed and calculated data.