Would the universe rotate plane polarized light?

[Spirochete]

I posted this in cosmology too, but I felt it deserved to be here also.

I recently learned something about chemical reactions: A reaction between two achiral molecules will always yield either a symmetrical product or a racemic mixture/s. A reaction involving chiral molecules may yield any possible product. Thus symmetry is always preserved, but asymmetry may yield symmetry.

Given billions of years of chemical reactions, regardless of what molecules we started with it would seem that we are proceding toward symmetry. Does this mean that the universe must be composed entirely, or virtually entirely, of some combination of achiral molecules and racemic mixtures?

 

[Andy Resnick]

I don't think that follows. Life on Earth, for example, uses only levo-rotatory amino acids (with a few exceptions).

 

[quicknote]

I cannot definitively answer whether the universe is composed of achiral molecules and racemic mixtures or not. However, I can provide some insights and interpretations based on current scientific understanding.

Firstly, the concept of chirality and symmetry in chemical reactions is well-established in organic chemistry. However, it is important to note that this concept applies to chemical reactions within a closed system, such as a laboratory experiment. The universe, on the other hand, is an open and constantly evolving system, with countless variables and interactions at play. Therefore, it is not appropriate to directly apply the principles of chemical reactions to the entire universe.

Additionally, while it is true that symmetry is often preserved in chemical reactions, this does not necessarily mean that the universe must be composed of symmetrical or achiral molecules. In fact, there is evidence that asymmetry and chiral molecules do exist in the universe, such as in the structure of some galaxies and the formation of amino acids in space.

Furthermore, the idea that the universe is progressing towards symmetry is a philosophical interpretation and not a scientific fact. The laws of physics and chemistry do not dictate any particular direction or goal for the universe. The evolution of the universe is driven by a complex interplay of various physical and chemical processes, and it is impossible to predict with certainty what the ultimate outcome will be.

In conclusion, while the concept of symmetry and chirality is important in understanding chemical reactions, it is not applicable to the entire universe. The universe is a vast and dynamic system, and its composition and evolution cannot be reduced to simple principles of chemical reactions.