7: Optical Isomerism
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Define stereoisomers.
Same structural and molecular formula, but the atoms are arranged differently in space
What is a chiral carbon?
A carbon atom with 4 different substituents attached.
What is an optical isomer?
They contain the same functional groups, but can produce a mirror image of eachother.
What does it mean if an isomer is optically active?
They rotate plane polarised light.
What is plane polarised light?
Light is vibrating in the same plane.
What does each enantiomer do to plane polarised light?
One enantiomer rotates it clockwise. The other enantiomer rotates it anticlockwise.
What is a racemic mixture?
A mixture that contains equal quantities of each enantiomer of an optically active compound.
Why don’t racemates show any optical activity.
The equal quantities of each enantiomer cancel each other out so there is no overall effect.