Final answer:
Enantiomers are stereoisomers that are nonsuperimposable mirror images of each other, having at least four different groups attached to a central chiral carbon. They share the same chemical structure but differ in the three-dimensional placement of atoms.
Step-by-step explanation:
The relationship between the compounds in question is that they are enantiomers, which are a specific type of stereoisomers. Enantiomers are mirror images of each other and are non-superimposable.
This means that while they share the same chemical structure and bonding patterns, their atoms are arranged in such a way that they cannot be placed on top of each other and give the same appearance.
It's important to note that to be enantiomers, a molecule must have at least four different atoms or groups connected to a central chiral carbon.
The amino acids D-alanine and L-alanine, as well as the monosaccharides D-glucose and L-glucose, are examples of enantiomers.
When it comes to physical and chemical properties, enantiomers have very similar characteristics, with the exception of their interactions with other chiral substances.
Also, enantiomers are not to be confused with structural isomers, which have a different covalent arrangement of atoms, or with geometric isomers, which have a different arrangement of atoms around a double bond.