Chemistry

• Optical Isomers are mirror images of each other and have a chiral carbon
• A chiral molecule has 4 different groups attached to it and the groups can be arranged in 2 different ways forming 2 different molecules - enantiomers
• Enantiomers are mirror images of each other and are non superimposable - do not overlap
• Optical Isomerism is a form of stereoisomerism where the molecule has the same structural formula but a different arrangement of atoms in space
• Optically active isomers will rotate plane polarised light which is used to detect an optically active compound
• A polarised filter is used to produce plane polarised light which only oscillates in 1 direction as opposed to standard light which oscillates in all directions. The plane polarised light is then passed through the optically active compound which will rotate the plane of polarised light
• One enantiomer will rotate clockwise and the other will rotate anticlockwise by the same amount
• Racemic mixtures is when we have equal amounts of each enantiomer
• Racemates do not rotate plane of polarised light as they enantiomers rotate the light in opposite directions and they cancel out
• A racemic mixture of a chiral product is made by reacting achiral substances together and there is an even chance of forming each enantiomers
• Molecules with planar profiles can make racemic products as there is a 50:50 chance the reactant will attack from both above or below forming 2 different enantiomers