Optical Isomerism

• Define racemic mixture

  Equal mixture of enantiomers
• State the relationship between two chiral molecules with the same structural formula

  Non-superimposable mirror images
• Describe how you distinguish between separate samples of the two enantiomers

  • Use Plane polarised light
  • Enantiomers would rotate light in opposite directions
• Define Optical Isomers

  Stereoisomers that are non-superimposable mirror images of each other, around a chiral centre and rotate plane polarised light in opposite direction