17A: Chirality

Question 1

Describe optical isomers and how they are formed.

Answer 1

Object and non-superimposable mirror images,
Formed from molecules with chiral centre(s).

Question 2

State what is meant by a chiral centre.

Answer 2

A carbon bonded to 4 different groups.

Question 3

Describe optical activity.

Answer 3

The ability of a single optical isomer to rotate the plane of polarisation of plane-polarised monochromatic light.

Question 4

Describe the nature of a racemic mix.

Answer 4

A mixture containing equal amounts of each enantiomer.
Has no optical activity.