Stereoisomers that are mirror images of each other are called

• A. Enantiomers
• B. Diastereomers
• C. Mesocompounds
• D. Anomers

Answer: (A)

The concept being tested is mirror-image relationships in stereoisomers. When two stereoisomers are mirror images but cannot be superimposed, they are enantiomers. This happens when a molecule has chiral centers and its opposite configurations at those centers form a non-superimposable mirror image. Enantiomers come in pairs and have the same physical properties in achiral environments, but they rotate plane-polarized light in opposite directions and can interact differently with chiral surroundings.

In this question, the term that correctly names mirrors of each other is enantiomers. The other terms describe different relationships: diastereomers are stereoisomers that are not mirror images; meso compounds are achiral despite having stereocenters due to an internal symmetry; anomers are specific diastereomers in cyclic sugars differing at the anomeric carbon.