Question

(a) Define the following:
(i) Enantiomers
(ii) Racemic mixture

Hint:

Enantiomers can be separated using chiral chromatography, while racemic mixtures can be resolved into their individual enantiomers through methods like recrystallization or enzymatic processes.

Answer 1

(i) Enantiomers:
Enantiomers are pairs of molecules that are mirror images of each other but cannot be superimposed. These molecules have the same physical properties but differ in how they interact with plane-polarized light and with other chiral substances. For instance, the right- and left-handed forms of a chiral molecule are enantiomers.
(ii) Racemic mixture:
A racemic mixture consists of equal amounts of two enantiomers of a chiral compound. In such a mixture, the optical activities of the enantiomers cancel each other out, leading to no overall optical rotation.
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