Optical isomerism

Optical isomerism occurs when substances have the same molecular formula and structural formula, but one cannot be superimposed on the other. Put simply, optical isomers are mirror images of each other.

Molecules like this are said to be chiral (pronounced ky-ral). The different forms are called enantiomers. Optical isomers can occur when there is an asymmetric carbon atom. An asymmetric carbon atom is one which is bonded to four different groups. It forms a chiral centre of the molecule.

The four groups can be something hideously complex, or something comfortably simple like a hydrogen atom or a chlorine atom.

Remember:

there must be four groups, and
they must all be different.

Optical isomers can rotate the plane of plane-polarised light. When a solution is viewed from above:

the (–) enantiomer rotates the plane anticlockwise (to the left)
the (+) enantiomer rotates the plane clockwise (to the right).

A mixture containing equal concentrations of the (+) and (–) enantiomers is not optically active – it will not rotate the plane of polarisation. It is called a racemic mixture or racemate.

A molecular model and its mirror image

Hands

Hands are chiral objects. They have the same shape but are mirror images of each other.

What is here?

Lactic acid entantiomers

The models below show the optical isomers of lactic acid (2-hydroxypropanoic acid). Mammalian cells produce the (+) enantiomer. Different species of bacteria can produce the (+) enantiomer, the (–) enantiomer, or both enantiomers. Sour milk contains the (–) enantiomer. Synthetic lactic acid is usually a racemic mixture.

Options
atom labels
ball and stick model
space-filling model
perspective view

Use your mouse (or finger on touch devices) to move or scale molecules. Double tap to stop and start each animation.

(-)-lactic acid

(+)-lactic acid

Butan-2-ol enantiomers

The models below show the optical isomers of butan-2-ol, CH₃CH₂CH(OH)CH₃. The carbon atom to which the hydroxyl (—OH) group is attached is an asymmetric carbon atom. It has four different groups attached to it.

—OH —H —CH₃ —CH₂CH₃

This carbon atom is the chiral centre of the molecule. The model of the (+) enantiomer is stationary so that you can try to rotate the model of the (–) enantiomer so they exactly superimpose.

Most natural amino acids are (–) enantiomers, and natural sugars are (+) enantiomers. You may see the letters l and d instead:

(–) enantiomers are laevoratory, l
(+) enantiomers are dextroratory, d.

(-)-butan-2-ol

Click to stop the animation, then move the model around to see if you can get it to exactly match (+) enantiomer.

(+)-butan-2-ol

This model cannot be animated but you can move it around in 3D, if you want to do this.

Name	Domain	Purpose	Expiry	Type
JSESSIONID	ichemlabs.cloud.chemdoodle.com	A generic technical cookie used for storing user session identifier in web applications.	54 years	HTTP
YSC	youtube.com	YouTube session cookie.	54 years	HTTP