Optical isomerism?

Question

There is no way to show optical isomerism using basic structural formula models is there? I mean the most basic structural formulas that do not show the four groups in their actual positions in space.

Answer 1

You need to show the three-dimensional structure. Some books do this by showing bonds coming out of the page as wedges, and those going back behind the page as sort of dotted.

Some books (I hate this) insist on drawing carbon atoms as squares and then give you confusing rules about which bonds are supposed be going towards you and which ones away from you.