Question

The process of converting one enantiomer of an optically active compound into racemic mixture is called as:
A. Resolution
B. Inversion
C. Epimerization
D. Racemisation

Answer 1

Hint: A compound which rotates the plane polarized light to either left or right side is called an optically active compound. All pure chiral compounds are optically active. Eg: (R)-Lactic acid is chiral and rotates the plane of plane-polarized light.

Complete step by step answer:
- Enantiomers are molecules having a chiral center and are mirror images of one another. Also, the enantiomers are non-superimposable on one another.
- Coming to given options, option A, resolution. It is wrong because we cannot prepare any racemic mixture by using the process called as resolution.
- Coming to option B, inversion. It is also wrong because Inversion is a process which converts one form of structure to another form by using reagents.
- Coming to option C, epimerization. It is also because epimerization is a process in stereochemistry in which there is a change in the configuration of only one chiral center. As a result, a diastereomer is formed.
- Coming to option D, racemization. It is the correct answer because through racemization we can prepare or convert one enantiomer of an optically active compound into a racemic mixture.

So, the correct option is D.

Note: Don’t be confused with words racemic mixture and enantiomer.
Racemic mixture: “It is one that has equal amounts of left and right-handed enantiomers of a chiral molecule”.
Enantiomer: “It is one of two stereoisomers that are mirror images of each other that are non-superimposable”.