optical isomerism

Question 1

What is optical isomerism?

Answer 1

= occurs in compounds with 4 different groups of atoms
= asyemtric carbon- chiral carbon
=

Question 1

How are these 4 groups arranged around the carbon?

Answer 1

= in a tetrahedral shape
= allows mirror images to be formed - 2 different isomerism

Question 2

What are enantiomers?

Answer 2

= two compounds that are optical isomers of eachother

Question 3

What are the physical and chemical properties like for optical isomers?

Answer 3

= similar
= rotate plane polarised light in different ways
= one enantiomer rotates in one direction and the other by the same ammount in the opposite direction

Question 4

What is a racemic mixture?

Answer 4

= a mixture of equal amounts of the two optical isomers

Question 5

What is light clockwise called?

Answer 5

= dextrorotary

Question 6

What is light anticlockwise?

Answer 6

= laevorotarotary

Question 7

How do racemic mixture react to plane polarised light?

Answer 7

=will not rotate

Question 8

drug action and optical isomers?

Answer 8

= drug action may be determined by the stereochemistry of the molecule
= different optical isomers

Question 9

What problem did one enantiomer of thalidomide cause?

Answer 9

= birth defects in unborn children
= whilst the other had sedative problems
= given in a racemic mixture