Question detail
How do the structures of optical isomers affect their ability to rotate plane-polarised light?
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
How do the structures of optical isomers affect their ability to rotate plane-polarised light?
Answer
The structures of optical isomers differ due to the arrangement of atoms around the chiral carbon, resulting in non-superimposable mirror images. This structural variation causes each isomer to interact differently with plane-polarised light, leading to opposite rotations.
Explanation
This answer effectively explains the cause (structural differences due to chiral carbon), the mechanism (non-superimposable mirror images), the effect (opposite rotations of plane-polarised light), and the consequence (different optical activities). The question assesses the application of knowledge regarding the relationship between molecular structure and optical properties.
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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