What is a Fischer Projection?
Answer – A Fischer projection is a two-dimensional representation of three-dimensional organic molecules, especially carbohydrates and other chiral molecules.
Explanation:
Fischer projections were developed by the German chemist Emil Fischer. They are commonly constructed using a sawhorse representation i.e., the molecule is viewed along the molecular axis. The horizontal lines represent the bonds of a molecule, projecting out of the plane toward the viewer. The vertical lines represent the bonds that project into the plane, away from the viewer.
Fischer projections can be rotated 180 degrees while preserving a molecule’s stereochemical information. They are particularly useful for representing chiral molecules and determining their stereochemistry.
Image credit: Saltymedic / Wikimedia Commons (licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0)
