Optical isomers

• Define optical isomer

  • Sterioisomer
  • Same molecular formula but different arrangement of atoms in the space
• What is required for optical isomers to form?

  • A molecule with a chiral carbon
• What is a chiral carbon?

  • A carbon with 4 different groups bonded around it
• How many isomers does a chiral carbon cause to form?

  • 2
• What are the 2 isomers called?

  • Enatomers
• What effect does a racemic mixture have on plain polarised light?

  • No effect
  • 50:50 of each enatomer will rotate the light in opposite directions so will cause no rotation
• Define racemic mixture

  • A mixture containing 50:50 of the two enantomers
• What is a polimeter used for?

  • To determine which enantomer is present
• What effect will an enantomer have on plain polarised light?

  • It will rotate the light by 90⁰
  • If +ive it will rotate it in the clockwise direction
• Why is optical isomerism an issue for the pharmaceutical industry,

  • Sometimes only one enantomer will be effective or in some cases one enantomer will have a harmful effect
• What does optical enantomer produce?

  • A non-superimposable, mirror image of each other