Optical isomerism in spite of plane of symmetry ....?

In summary, optical isomerism is a type of stereoisomerism where molecules have the same chemical formula and bonding pattern, but differ in their three-dimensional arrangement, resulting in non-superimposable mirror images. A plane of symmetry is an imaginary plane that divides a molecule into two equal halves, making it unable to exhibit optical isomerism. This is important in chemistry as it can affect the properties of molecules, and can be detected through methods such as polarimetry and X-ray crystallography.
  • #1
Vishesh Jain
9
0
Homework Statement
i'm having a complex which has plane of symmetry but still seems optically active
Relevant Equations
please see the figure and description
1570149121666.png

Shown above is an octahedral coordination complex and it's mirror image. The complex has a plane of symmetry (shown in the left diagram, a diagonal plane passing through bottom left and top right corner, perpendicular to the square plane) ... but still it's mirror image is non-superimposable ... i.e it is an optically active compound .. how is it possible or where is my mistake ?
 
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  • #2
If you rotate the mirror image 90° clockwise about the vertical axis, you can superpose it with the original compound.
 
  • #3
Oh yea .. thanks :-) !
 

FAQ: Optical isomerism in spite of plane of symmetry ....?

1. What is optical isomerism?

Optical isomerism is a phenomenon in which two or more molecules have the same chemical formula and bond connectivity, but differ in the spatial arrangement of their atoms. This results in two or more structures that are non-superimposable mirror images of each other, known as enantiomers.

2. What is a plane of symmetry?

A plane of symmetry is an imaginary plane that divides a molecule into two equal halves, with one half being a mirror image of the other. In other words, if a molecule has a plane of symmetry, it can be folded along that plane and the two resulting parts would be identical.

3. Can a molecule have optical isomers even if it has a plane of symmetry?

Yes, a molecule can still have optical isomers even if it has a plane of symmetry. This is because the plane of symmetry may not be the only element of symmetry present in the molecule. If there are other elements of symmetry, such as a center of symmetry or an improper rotation axis, they can cancel out the effects of the plane of symmetry and result in optical isomers.

4. How does optical isomerism affect the properties of a molecule?

Optical isomerism can greatly affect the properties of a molecule. Enantiomers have the same physical and chemical properties, except for the direction in which they rotate plane-polarized light. This is known as optical activity. Enantiomers also interact differently with other chiral molecules, which can have implications in fields such as pharmacology and biology.

5. How is optical isomerism important in the field of chemistry?

Optical isomerism is important in the field of chemistry because it allows for the production of enantiomerically pure substances, which can have different biological activities and properties. It is also used in chemical synthesis to produce specific enantiomers of molecules. Additionally, understanding and predicting the presence of optical isomers is crucial for drug development and understanding the properties of natural compounds.

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