Optical Isomerism

Optical isomerism is a form of what type of isomerism?

Stereoisomerism

State what is meant by optical isomers.

Molecules that have the same molecular and structural formula but have mirror images that cannot be superimposed on each other

When do optical isomers occur?

When a carbon in the molecule is bonded to 4 different groups

What name is given to a carbon bonded to 4 different groups?

Chiral carbon/ chiral centre

What symbol is used to indicate a chiral carbon?

*

What is another name for optical isomers?

Enantiomers

State how the different enantiomers of a substance can be identified.

By observing their effect on plane-polarised light

What is a racemic mixture?

A mixture containing equal amount of each of the 2 enantiomers

Why are racemic mixtures optically inactive?

The enantiomers bend the light equally in opposite directions, so the rotation cancels out