Optical Isomerism (Organic) (complete)

Question 1

What is optical isomerism?

Answer 1

• Molecules whose mirror image is a different molecule due to different groups being present on the central C atom.

Question 2

What are enantiomers?

Answer 2

• Two compounds that are optical isomers of each other.

Question 3

What is a racemic mixture/racemate?

Answer 3

• A mixture that contains 50/50 mixture of the two enantiomers.

Question 4

How can enantiomers be told apart?

Answer 4

• Optical isomers can rotate a plane of polarised light (optically active).
• One enantiomers will rotate the plane one direction.
• The other enantiomer will rotate the plane the other direction by the same amount.

Question 5

What does optically inactive mean?

Answer 5

• When a racemic mixture doesn’t rotate a plane of polarised light at all/has no effect.

Question 6

What are the similarities/differences in the properties of optical isomers?

Answer 6

• They have the same chemical and physical properties as each other.