Science, Tech, Math › Science The Meaning of Wavy Lines in Skeletal Structures Skeletal Structures and Stereoisomerism Print Skeletal structures describe three-dimensional molecules without being 3D. cdascher, Getty Images Science Chemistry Molecules Basics Chemical Laws Periodic Table Projects & Experiments Scientific Method Biochemistry Physical Chemistry Medical Chemistry Chemistry In Everyday Life Famous Chemists Activities for Kids Abbreviations & Acronyms Biology Physics Geology Astronomy Weather & Climate By Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D. Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D. Chemistry Expert Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences, University of Tennessee at Knoxville B.A., Physics and Mathematics, Hastings College Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences and is a science writer, educator, and consultant. She has taught science courses at the high school, college, and graduate levels. Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on November 05, 2019 Wavy lines in skeletal structures are used to show information about stereoisomerism. Typically, wedges are used to denote a bond bending out from the plane of the rest of the molecule. Solid wedges show bonds bending towards the viewer and hashed wedges show bonds bending away from the viewer. Wavy Lines in Skeletal Structures These skeletal structures show the different stereoisomer representations of the amino acid valine. Todd Helmenstine A wavy line can mean two things. First, it can denote the stereochemistry is unknown in a sample. The structure could be marked either solid or hash wedged. Secondly, the wavy line can denote a sample containing a mixture of the two possibilities. The structures in the image pertain to the amino acid valine. Amino acids all (except glycine) have a chiral center carbon adjacent to the carboxyl functional group (-COOH). The amine group (NH2) bends out from the plane of the rest of the molecule at this carbon. The first structure is the general skeletal structure with no concern for stereochemistry. The second structure is the L-valine structure found in the human body. The third structure is D-valine and has the amine group bending opposite of L-valine. The last structure shows a wavy line at the amine group showing either a sample containing a mixture of L- and D-valine or it is valine, but unknown if the sample is L- or D-valine. More About Amino Acid Chirality Learn more about chirality and how it relates to amino acids: Chirality Example Shows the difference between left and right-handed amino acids. Amino Acid Chirality Discusses the chirality of amino acids. Cite this Article Format mla apa chicago Your Citation Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "The Meaning of Wavy Lines in Skeletal Structures." ThoughtCo, Aug. 29, 2020, thoughtco.com/wavy-lines-in-skeletal-structures-608699. Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. (2020, August 29). The Meaning of Wavy Lines in Skeletal Structures. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/wavy-lines-in-skeletal-structures-608699 Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "The Meaning of Wavy Lines in Skeletal Structures." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/wavy-lines-in-skeletal-structures-608699 (accessed April 19, 2024). copy citation