Question detail
What is the reason that optical isomers rotate plane-polarised light in opposite directions?
Try the question, check the answer, then read the explanation to understand the curriculum point.
At a glance
Question
Type
exam_style
Style
Topic
Optical isomerism (A-level only)
Question
What is the reason that optical isomers rotate plane-polarised light in opposite directions?
Answer
Optical isomers contain chiral carbon atoms, which create non-superimposable mirror images. This structural difference leads to the interaction of the isomers with plane-polarised light, causing them to rotate the light in opposite directions.
Explanation
This answer is strong because it identifies the cause (chiral carbon atoms), explains the mechanism (non-superimposable mirror images), and states the effect (rotation of plane-polarised light in opposite directions) along with its consequence (different optical activities). The question tests understanding of optical isomerism and its impact on light behavior.
Common mistake
Misunderstanding Optical Activity
Students often think that all organic molecules can rotate plane-polarised light, regardless of their structure.
Understand that only chiral molecules, which have a non-superimposable mirror image, can rotate plane-polarised light due to their specific spatial arrangement of atoms.
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