Organic Chem exam 2

Chiral resolution

The process of separating a racemic mixture into its individual enantiomers.

Enantiomers

Molecules that are mirror images of each other but cannot be superimposed.

Diastereomers

Molecules that are stereoisomers but are not mirror images.

Asymmetric carbon

A carbon atom attached to four different substituents.

Achiral

A compound that contains no chiral center.

Optical activity

The property of a compound to rotate plane-polarized light.

Polarimeter

The instrument used to measure the angle of rotation of plane-polarized light.

Optically pure

A sample containing only one enantiomer.

Dextrorotatory

A compound that rotates plane-polarized light to the right.

Levorotatory

A compound that rotates plane-polarized light to the left.

Racemic mixture

A 50:50 mixture of two enantiomers.

Zero

The optical rotation of a racemic mixture.

Enantiomeric excess

The percentage by which one enantiomer exceeds the other.

Meso compound

An optically inactive compound possessing stereocenters with internal symmetry.

Plane-polarized light

Light that vibrates in only one plane.

Stereoisomers

Molecules with the same formula and connectivity but different spatial arrangements.

Specific rotation

The observed angle through which plane-polarized light is rotated.

Optically inactive

A compound that does not rotate plane-polarized light.

Chiral center

A carbon atom bonded to four different groups.

Chiral

A molecule that cannot be superimposed on its mirror image.