What is optical isomerism and how can you distinguish between optical isomers?

A molecule will exhibit optical isomerism if it contains a chiral centre/ an asymmetric carbon atom - in other words, if it contains a carbon atom with 4 different groups attached. Due to this property, these types of molecules have a mirror image that is non-superimposable upon itself. This means that you cannot map one molecule onto the other (unless you break some bonds!).

Due to the fact that these mirror images - or optical isomers - are quite similar, they often has similar chemical and physical properties, so cannot be distinguished by usual chemical or physical methods.

However, optical isomers have different effects on plane-polarised light (light that travels in a single plane). One isomer will rotate the plane of this plane-polarised light clockwise, and the other will rotate it anticlockwise. This is how you can distinguish the isomers from one another.

Answered by Beth S. Chemistry tutor

39084 Views

See similar Chemistry A Level tutors

Related Chemistry A Level answers

All answers ▸

Q1. Two beakers, A and B, each contain 100.0 cm^3 of 0.0125 mol/dm^3 nitric acid. Calculate the pH of the solution formed after 50.0 cm^3 of distilled water are added to beaker A. Give your answer to 2 decimal places.


A compound is found to contain 30.7% Sulfur, 23,3% Magnesium and 46% Oxygen. What is the empirical formula of the compound?


a) How can an element be classified as a transition metal, considering only electronic arrangement? (1 mark) b) In terms of electrons, why is aqueous copper(II) sulphate solution red? (3 marks) c) EDTA is a bidentate ligand. What is a bidentate ligand?(2)


State and explain the tests necessary to positively identify an unknown sample as copper carbonate


We're here to help

contact us iconContact usWhatsapp logoMessage us on Whatsapptelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

© MyTutorWeb Ltd 2013–2024

Terms & Conditions|Privacy Policy
Cookie Preferences