Optical Isomers
What is Optical Isomers?
Optical isomers (enantiomers) are non-superimposable mirror-image molecules that are identical in all physical properties except for the direction in which they rotate plane-polarised light. They arise from chiral centres — typically a carbon atom bonded to four different substituents. One enantiomer rotates light clockwise (dextrorotatory, +) and the other counterclockwise (levorotatory, −). Enantiomers can have different biological activities.
Key Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
Optical isomers (enantiomers) are non-superimposable mirror-image molecules that are identical in all physical properties except for the direction in which they rotate plane-polarised light. They arise from chiral centres — typically a carbon atom bonded to four different substituents. One enantiomer rotates light clockwise (dextrorotatory, +) and the other counterclockwise (levorotatory, −). Enantiomers can have different biological activities.