Walden inversion

noun

The inversion of a chiral center in a molecule in a chemical reaction, converting the configuration of the molecule from one enantiomeric form to the other.

Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

nounWalden inversion (countable and uncountable, plural Walden inversions)

plural Walden inversions

  1. countableuncountablechemistryThe inversion of a chiral center in a molecule in a chemical reaction, converting the configuration of the molecule from one enantiomeric form to the other.

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
stereoinversion

Origin

First observed by chemist Paul Walden in 1896.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

Walden inversion. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Walden%20inversion

MLA

“Walden inversion.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Walden%20inversion. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Walden inversion,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Walden%20inversion.

Source: Walden inversion on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.