a. Chem. [irreg. f. Gr. στερεός solid + -IC: cf. STEREOCHEMISTRY.] Pertaining or relating to the arrangement in space of the atoms in a molecule.
Steric hindrance, hindrance of a reaction, held to be due to the spatial arrangement of the atoms in the molecules of one of the reacting compounds.
1898. H. N. Stokes, in Smithsonian Rep., 301. Stereochemical formulas are … more than reaction formulas, and the steric conception of the so-called double and triple union asserts that these actually exist.
1905. A. W. Stewart, in Jrnl. Chem. Soc., Trans., LXXXVII. 185. Angeli … suggested that steric hindrance played a part in the reactions involving the addition of metallic hydrogen sulphites [etc.] … to carbonyl groups.
