Optical Isomerism defs

Question 1

Chiral centre/ asymmetric carbon

Answer 1

C atom w/ 4 diff. groups attached

Question 2

Optical isomers/ enantiomers

Answer 2

• ≥ 1 chiral centre
• non-superimposable mirror images of each other
• identical chem properties
• may behave diff. in chiral biological environments
• ～ phy properties
• rotate plane of plane-polarised light in opp. directions

Question 3

Racemic mixture/ racemate

Answer 3

contains equal amounts of a pair of optical isomers