ENANTIOMERS OF A TETRAHALOMETHANE

An sp³-hybridised carbon atom with four different substituents is called a "chiral centre" or "asymmetric carbon atom".  An example is present in fluorochlorobromoiodomethane (CFClBrI).  It is not immediately obvious that stereoisomers are possible for this type of molecule, i.e. that the chiral centre is another type of "stereogenic centre".  However, consider the images below.  You cannot superimpose the left-hand molecule on the right hand one, they are therefore different, and they are therefore stereoisomers.  By reorienting them you should be able to see that they have a very specific relationship, that of mirror images.  They are therefore enantiomers.
 
 

R-enantiomer	S-enantiomer

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