Question

Number of optical isomer of lactic acid are

• A. 1
• B. 2
• C. 3
• D. 4

Answer 1

The correct option is B 2

The structure of lactic acid is :
Only one chiral centre is there in lactic acid. Hence two optical isomers are possible.
When the molecule has no symmetry, number of optical isomer = $2^n$
where n is number of chiral carbon
Number of optical isomer in lactic acid= $2^1=2$