Reason for optical activity(of optical isomers)

In summary, optical activity refers to a chemical compound's ability to rotate polarized light, which is caused by the presence of chiral centers or asymmetry in its molecular structure. Optical isomers, or enantiomers, are molecules with the same formula and bonding structure but differ in their spatial arrangement of atoms, resulting in different optical activity. This is due to their chiral nature and lack of symmetry. The molecular structure directly affects optical activity, and changes in it can alter a compound's optical activity. The study of optical activity and isomers has various applications in industries such as pharmaceuticals, food production, and materials science.
  • #1
saurya_mishra
3
0
Can anyone tell me the reason why an enatiomer rotates the plane of polarised light? Or at least tell me where i can read more on the reason why some compounds exibit optical activity.

Thanx
Saurya
 
Chemistry news on Phys.org
  • #3


Optical activity is the ability of some compounds to rotate the plane of polarized light. This phenomenon is observed in compounds that have chiral centers, which are carbon atoms that are bonded to four different groups. Enantiomers are molecules that have the same chemical formula and connectivity but are mirror images of each other. Due to their structural differences, enantiomers have the ability to rotate the plane of polarized light in opposite directions.

The reason for this optical activity lies in the asymmetric arrangement of atoms in chiral molecules. The presence of a chiral center means that the molecule has two different three-dimensional structures, similar to our hands being mirror images of each other. Just like how our hands cannot be superimposed on each other, the two enantiomers cannot be superimposed on each other. This results in the two enantiomers having different physical properties, including their ability to rotate polarized light in opposite directions.

If you would like to learn more about the reason behind optical activity, I suggest researching the concept of chirality and its role in molecular structure. You can also look into the physical properties of enantiomers and how they differ from each other. Additionally, studying the interaction between polarized light and chiral molecules can provide further insight into this phenomenon.

I hope this helps answer your question. Happy learning!
 

What is optical activity?

Optical activity is the ability of a chemical compound to rotate the plane of polarized light. This phenomenon is due to the compound's molecular structure, specifically the presence of chiral centers or asymmetry.

What are optical isomers?

Optical isomers, also known as enantiomers, are molecules that have the same chemical formula and bonding structure, but differ in their spatial arrangement of atoms. This results in the molecules being non-superimposable mirror images of each other and exhibiting different optical activity.

What is the reason for optical activity in optical isomers?

The reason for optical activity in optical isomers is their chiral nature. This means that they lack a plane of symmetry and therefore, the two enantiomers cannot be superimposed on each other. As a result, they interact differently with polarized light, leading to their distinct optical activity.

How does the molecular structure affect optical activity?

The molecular structure directly affects optical activity. As mentioned before, the presence of chiral centers or asymmetry in a molecule is what causes it to be optically active. Changes in the molecular structure, such as the introduction of a chiral center, can also lead to a change in the compound's optical activity.

What are the applications of optical activity and optical isomers?

The study of optical activity and optical isomers has various applications in fields such as pharmaceuticals, food industry, and materials science. For example, different enantiomers of a drug can have different effects on the body, making it important to identify and separate them in pharmaceutical products. Optical activity is also used in the production and quality control of food products such as sugar and amino acids.

Similar threads

  • Chemistry
Replies
4
Views
2K
Replies
6
Views
5K
Replies
2
Views
1K
Replies
4
Views
4K
  • Biology and Chemistry Homework Help
Replies
1
Views
1K
Replies
3
Views
1K
Replies
1
Views
4K
  • Chemistry
Replies
1
Views
2K
Back
Top