Optical Isomerism Flashcards
What are stereoisomers?
Compounds that have the same structural formula but a different arrangement of atoms within a space.
What is a chiral carbon atom?
A carbon atom has four different groups attached to it.
What are enantiomers?
Compounds that are mirror images of each other and they can’t be superimposed.
Draw the two enantiomers of 2-hydroxypropanoic acid.
What is plane polarised light?
When normal light is passed through a polarising filter and all the light vibrates in the same direction.
What are the differences between how enantiomers rotate polarised light?
They rotate plane-polarised light in opposite directions.
What is a racemate mixture?
A mixture that contains equal amounts of each enantiomer.
Why do racemate mixtures not show any optical activity?
The enantiomers cancel each other’s polarising effect.
How is a racemate mixture made?
If the compound has a triagonal planar shape the attacking species can act on the carbon from both sides.
