R/S-Configuration Exercises

Select a compound from the black panel. It will appear in the white panel. In the examples under "Several Chiral Centers", the numbers in brackets indicate the number of chiral centers. Determine the R/S-configuration of each chiral center. Click the "show R/S" button to check your answer and display any comments (Notes:). Atom Colors: carbon, gray; hydrogen, light blue; bromine, magenta; chlorine, green; nitrogen, blue; oxygen, red; sulfur, yellow. Notice: Atom numbers (hovering) may not agree with nomenclature numbers. Read How to Manipulate JSmol Structures if you use the clockwise vs. counterclockwise method. There is a better method discussed in a primer on R/S-configuration.

One Chiral Center










Several Chiral Centers




















(How to Manipulate JSmol Structures.)