idk yet Flashcards
What is non-superimposable?
Can’t place one directly on top of the other and them be the same
What is a chiral carbon?
A carbon with 4 different groups
What are the mirror images called in an optical isomer?
Enantiomers
What is a racemic mixture?
50:50 split of both enantiomers
How do you test for optical isomers?
Using a polarised light filter
-depending on the enantiomer, will rotate the light clockwise or anti-clockwise.
Aldehyde or ketone goes to alcohol, what is the mechanism called?
Nucleophilic addition
What is the conditions for nucleophilic addition?
Slightly acidic
What mechanism can form optical isomers?
nucleophilic addition
Why can optical isomers be formed from nucleophilic addition?
The carbonyl is planar so the nucleophile can attack from either side to make a chiral carbon, so equal liklihood, racemic mixture
Why might an optical isomer not be formed?
Ketone was symmetrical
What is the reducing agent for ketones and aldehydes?
Sodium borohydride - NaBH4
[H]
:H-
