noun
- either of two stereoisomers that differ in configuration at only one stereogenic center
Usage: chemistry; biochemistry
Examples
- Glucose and mannose are epimers that differ only at the second carbon atom.
- The two epimers have different chemical properties despite their similar molecular formulas.
- In carbohydrate chemistry, epimers are important for understanding sugar reactivity.
- D-glucose and D-galactose are epimers of each other.