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⚗️ Same formula, different groups 🪱 Repeated body parts 🌈 Color change by light
metamerism

metamerism

1 9.9
Molecules with the same formula but different groups on each side
  • noun
  • /ˌmɛtəˈmɛrɪzəm/
  • Specialized
: metamerismo
  • The professor demonstrated metamerism by comparing several isomers of ethers that have the same chemical formula but distinct structural configurations.

Examples

  • The professor illustrated metamerism using examples of ethers with varying alkyl groups.

  • In organic chemistry, metamerism explains why some compounds have identical formulas but different properties.

  • Understanding metamerism is important for distinguishing between similar-looking chemical compounds.

  • What is metamerism?

  • The concept of metamerism is crucial in organic chemistry.

  • In organic chemistry, metamerism refers to the phenomenon where two chemical compounds share the same molecular formula but differ in the structure of their alkyl groups.

  • The concept of metamerism plays a key role in understanding how different arrangements of alkyl groups can lead to variations in chemical properties.

Synonyms

isomerism
vsmetamerism
  • Specialized
8.6

Compounds that have the same numbers of each atom but different arrangements, giving different properties

is a narrower type focusing on differing alkyl groups around a functional group

Surface Forms

metamerism singular
metamerisms plural

Morphology

metamerism = metamer (opaque) = metamer + ism

The chemistry sense names a technical type of isomerism based on the specialized term 'metamer', which is not accessible to average learners.

Etymology

Metamerism comes from the Greek parts meta- 'change', seen in metamorphosis, and meros 'part'. In chemistry it means molecules have the same formula but different 'parts' placed differently, so they can show different behaviour.