Asymmetric carbon atom

{
  "id": "MLC-T-CHM-000856",
  "term": "Asymmetric carbon atom",
  "field": "Chemistry",
  "definition": "A carbon atom that is covalently attached to four non-identical atoms or groups, creating a center of chirality within a molecule. The spatial arrangement of these four distinct substituents around the carbon allows for the existence of two non-superimposable mirror-image forms, known as enantiomers. A molecule containing a single asymmetric carbon atom is always chiral and will exhibit optical activity.",
  "subject": "Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry",
  "see_also": [
    "chirality centre"
  ],
  "references": [
    "Blue Book, p. 480 (https://www.acdlabs.com/iupac/nomenclature/)",
    "PAC, 1996, 68, 2193. 'Basic terminology of stereochemistry (IUPAC Recommendations 1996)' on page 2200 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199668122193)"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/chemistry/asymmetric-carbon-atom/"
}