enantiomer
noun
en·an·tio·mer
i-ˈnan-tē-ə-mər 
: either of a pair of chemical compounds whose molecular structures have a nonsuperimposable mirror-image relationship to each other compare diastereomer
Examples of enantiomer in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
If the wrong enantiomers slip into pharmaceuticals, the effects can sometimes be toxic or even lethal.
—
Yasemin Saplakoglu, Quanta Magazine, 6 Sep. 2023
Once a crystal seed forms from the enantiomer that is attracted to the surface, the crystal preferentially grows by incorporating more of the same enantiomer.
—Yasemin Saplakoglu, Quanta Magazine, 6 Sep. 2023
And then there’s the case of esketamine, which is the S-enantiomer of ketamine, a similar (in molecular structure) but more potent agent than ketamine.
—Joshua Cohen, Forbes, 5 July 2021
Ketamine is a combination of two enantiomers, or mirror image molecules.
—Megan Thielking, Scientific American, 6 Mar. 2019
Strangely enough, meth's enantiomer is the active ingredient in Vick's Vapor Inhaler.
—William Herkewitz, Popular Mechanics, 19 Aug. 2013
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback
about these examples.
Yasemin Saplakoglu, Quanta Magazine, 6 Sep. 2023
Once a crystal seed forms from the enantiomer that is attracted to the surface, the crystal preferentially grows by incorporating more of the same enantiomer.
—Yasemin Saplakoglu, Quanta Magazine, 6 Sep. 2023
And then there’s the case of esketamine, which is the S-enantiomer of ketamine, a similar (in molecular structure) but more potent agent than ketamine.
—Joshua Cohen, Forbes, 5 July 2021
Ketamine is a combination of two enantiomers, or mirror image molecules.
—Megan Thielking, Scientific American, 6 Mar. 2019
Strangely enough, meth's enantiomer is the active ingredient in Vick's Vapor Inhaler.
—William Herkewitz, Popular Mechanics, 19 Aug. 2013
Dictionary Entries Near enantiomer
Cite this Entry
“Enantiomer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enantiomer. Accessed 15 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
enantiomer
noun
en·an·tio·mer
in-ˈant-ē-ə-mər
: either of a pair of chemical compounds whose molecular structures have a mirror-image relationship to each other
called also optical antipode
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share