Chapter 23, Problem 23.49SP

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

Out of the lactic acid, acetic acid and propanoic acid, the molecules which exist as a chiral molecule and two mirror-image forms.

Concept introduction:

Optical activity is defined as the phenomena, in which the mirror image of any compound is non-superimposable on it, in this case, compound or substance is said to be chiral.

The point about which compound is non-superimposable on its mirror image is known as the chiral center.

For the atom to be chiral, it must be connected to four different atoms or groups of atoms.