Describe the differences between enantiomers and diastereomers.

Enantiomers are mirror images of each other, while diastereomers are not identical and not mirror images.

Enantiomers and diastereomers are two types of stereoisomers. Stereoisomers are molecules that have the same molecular formula and connectivity but differ in the arrangement of their atoms in space. Enantiomers are mirror images of each other, meaning that they are non-superimposable. They have the same physical and chemical properties, except for their interaction with plane-polarized light. Enantiomers rotate plane-polarized light in opposite directions and are therefore called optical isomers. Enantiomers have one or more chiral centers, which are carbon atoms that have four different groups attached to them.

Diastereomers, on the other hand, are stereoisomers that are not mirror images of each other. They have different physical and chemical properties, such as melting point, boiling point, and solubility. Diastereomers have two or more chiral centers, but they differ in the configuration of only some of them. Diastereomers have different chemical reactivity and biological activity, and they can be separated by chromatography or other methods.

In conclusion, enantiomers are mirror images of each other, while diastereomers are not identical and not mirror images. Enantiomers have the same physical and chemical properties, except for their interaction with plane-polarized light, while diastereomers have different physical and chemical properties. Understanding the differences between enantiomers and diastereomers is important in fields such as drug design, where the biological activity of a molecule can depend on its stereochemistry.