Fischer projection

Definition

A Fischer projection is a two-dimensional representation of a molecule in organic chemistry that shows the configuration of its atoms in space. It is especially useful for depicting stereoisomers of carbohydrates, indicating how groups are arranged around chiral centers without requiring three-dimensional models.

Related terms

Stereoisomer:

Molecules that have the same molecular formula but differ in the three-dimensional orientations of their atoms in space.

Chiral Center:

A carbon atom attached to four different groups or atoms, making it the point of asymmetry in certain molecules.

Carbohydrates:

Organic compounds consisting of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, usually with the hydrogen - oxygen atom ratio of 2 - 1; important as energy sources and structural components in living organisms