02. Optical isomerism

What is a chiral carbon?

Carbon atom attached to 4 different groups and aren’t symmetrical

What is an enantiomer?

2 mirror images created from 4 different groups attached

What is plane of polarised light?

Has vibrations occurring in a single plain

What is the difference between plane of polarised light and normal light?

Normal light has vibrations occurring at random angles in any plane

What’s a racemic mixture?

Has equal amounts (equimolar) left and right handed enantiomers

What’s an asymmetrical carbon?

Carbon with 4 different groups attached

Describe the activity in racemic mixtures

No optical activity as one enantiomer cancels the other out and there is a 50:50 split

What about the chemical and physical properties of optical isomers?

Have the same physical and chemical properties but interact differently with other chiral species

Why can you ignore carbon double bond?

2 bonds go to same atom

How do chiral centres give rise to optical isomerism?

Chiral carbons rotate in plane polarised light in opposite directions