When manipulating substituent groups around a chiral center on paper to simplify R/S determination, — Isomerism and Stereochemistry Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

In strict topological mathematics, swapping the positions of any two substituent groups exactly one time (an odd interchange) forcibly inverts the chiral center's 3D geometry (R becomes S). Performing exactly two sequential, independent swaps (an even interchange) flips it back, perfectly restoring and preserving the original identical absolute configuration.