Question detail
Which of the following pairs represents optical isomers?
Try the question, check the answer, then read the explanation to understand the curriculum point.
At a glance
MCQ
Type
practice
Style
Topic
Optical isomerism (A-level only)
Question
- A. 2-butanol and 3-butanol
- B. Lactic acid and its enantiomer
- C. Ethyl alcohol and dimethyl ether
- D. Acetic acid and propanoic acid
Answer
Lactic acid and its enantiomer
Explanation
Optical isomers are non-superimposable mirror images of each other, which is the case for lactic acid and its enantiomer. The other pairs do not exhibit this property.
Common mistake
Identifying Optical Isomers
Students often fail to recognize that optical isomers must be non-superimposable mirror images of each other.
To fix this, remember that for two molecules to be optical isomers, they must have chiral centers and cannot be aligned perfectly when one is placed over the other.
Related flashcards
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Related practice questions
Question 1 of 5
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