Chapter 25 - Optical Isomerism
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define optical isomerism
a form of stereoisomerism where there are 4 groups bonded to a central atom, forming 2 molecules with non-superimposable mirror images of each other
what are enantiomers
a pair of optical isomers which correspond to eachother
whats a chiral carbon
the carbon with 4 different groups
whats a racemic mixture or racemate
a 50/50 mixture of an enantiomer pair
describe the optical effects of enantiomers
when polarized light is shone through a sample of enantiomers, one will rotate the plane of polarization in the clockwise direction and one in the anticlockwise direction the + isomer is clockwise, the - isomer is anticlockwise
why does a racemate have no optical effect on polarised light
because the effects of each isomer cancel out
what is lactic acid
2-hydroxypropanoic acid
what is stage one in the synthesis of lactic acid
ethanal undergoes nucleophilic addition with a CN group to form 2-hydroxypropanenitrile
what is stage two in the synthesis of lactic acid
hydrolysis of 2-hydroxypropanenitrile with a mixture of water acidified with dilute HCl the nitrile group is replaced with a carboxylic acid group. the products are lactic acid and ammonium chloride