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Khan Academy on a Stick

Chirality and the R,S system

Are you right handed or sinister-handed? Have you ever thought that you might not be as attractive as you look in the mirror? Welcome to the world of chirality. In this tutorial, Sal explores molecules that have the same composition and bonding, but are fundamentally different because they are mirror images of each other (kind of like Tomax and Xamot--the Crimson Guard Commanders from GI Joe).

Chirality and absolute configuration

Mirror, mirror on the wall . . . who is the fairest stereoisomer of all? In this tutorial, Jay explains chirality and how to determine the absolute configuration at a chirality center.

Optical activity

In this tutorial, Jay explains the concept of optical activity and demonstrates how to calculate specific rotation and enantiomeric excess.

Diastereomers and meso compounds

In this tutorial, Sal and Jay define stereoisomers, diastereomers, and meso compounds.

Fischer projections

In this tutorial, Jay shows how to draw a fischer projection and how to assign an absolute configuration to a chirality center in a fischer projection.