How do you know if a Stereoisomer is Optically Active?
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Solution
A light-rotating chiral molecule is said to be optically active. If the molecule rotates in the clockwise direction of plane-polarized light, we call the rotation a dextrorotatory rotation. If it rotates counterclockwise, we call it levorotatory rotation.
For, the number of optically active stereoisomers available is. They are optically active isomers of .
Chiral molecules are normally optically active, and similar and opposite light rotation can be demonstrated by two enantiomers.
Enantiomers are also often called optical isomers. A mixture of all enantiomers is referred to as a racemate or racemic mixture, and the light plane does not rotate.