A standard Racemic Mixture ( or ) is completely optically inactive. Unlike a meso compound, this ina — Isomerism and Stereochemistry Chemistry Question
Question
A standard Racemic Mixture ($d/l$ or $\pm$) is completely optically inactive. Unlike a meso compound, this inactivity is due to "External Compensation". What does this imply?
Answer: B
💡 Solution & Explanation
A racemic mixture is an equimolar (50:50) physical blend of two pure enantiomers. External compensation implies that when PPL passes through the bulk solution, the $+x^\circ$ rotation caused by a discrete $d$ -enantiomer molecule is immediately and perfectly canceled out by a separate, discrete $l$ -enantiomer molecule rotating the light $-x^\circ$.
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