1.7 Properties of Enantiomers

• Properties of light:

  • Ordinary light waves
  • Plane polarized light waves
• Ordinary light waves

  • Vibrate in all directions

  
• Plane polarized light waves

  • Vibrate only in one direction

  
• Levorotatory compound

  • Chiral compound that rotates light towards left (counterclockwise; -)
• Dextrorotatory compound

  • Chiral compound that rotates light towards right (clockwise; +)
• Carbohydrates are optically active compounds because it will rotate the plane of polarized light.
• Polarimeter

  an instrument for measuring the polarization of light, and especially for determining the effect of a substance in rotating the plane of polarization of light.
• Enantiomers pairs have same solubility in achiral solvents.
• Enantiomers have same boiling points, melting points and densities, dependent upon intermolecular forces, whereas chirality doesn't depend on such forces.