The spatial arrangement of a molecule achieved by rotation of groups about single covalent bonds, without breaking any covalent bonds; the latter restriction differentiates c. from configuration (as in anomers and related stereoisomers) where a bond or bonds must be broken in going from one form (configuration) to another. C. is one of the most important aspects of sugar chemistry and is basic to an understanding of the chemical properties of sugars. Cf.:configuration.
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con·for·ma·tion .kän-(.)fȯr-'mā-shən, -fər- n any of the spatial arrangements of a molecule that can be obtained by rotation of the atoms about a single bond
con·for·ma·tion·al -shnəl, -shən-əl adj
con·for·ma·tion·al·ly -ē adv
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con·for·ma·tion (kon″for-maґshən) the particular shape of an entity. In chemistry, the spatial arrangement of atoms in a molecule produced by rotations about single bonds, the property that distinguishes different conformers (conformational isomers) from each other.Medical dictionary. 2011.