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What are two types of stereoisomerism?

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Solution

Stereoisomerism is the arrangement of atoms in molecules whose connectivity remains the same but their arrangement in space is different in each isomer.
The two main types of stereoisomerism are: DiaStereomerism (including 'cis-trans isomerism') Optical Isomerism (also known as 'enantiomerism' and 'chirality').

Cis-trans isomerism- Cis/trans isomerism occurs when a double bond is present, because the pi bond involved prevents that bond from being "twisted" the same way that a single bond can be.
A good example is 1,2-dichloroethene: C2H2Cl2.

Optical Isomerism- Optical isomers are stereoisomers formed when asymmetric centers are present, for example, a carbon with four different groups bonded to it.
Enantiomers are two optical isomers (i.e. isomers that are reflections of each other).

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