Question

What is a dextrorotatory compound?

Answer 1

Hint :The prefix dextro is a latin word meaning “to the right”. (+) or (D) is mostly used as a prefix. This term is used when one has to describe the optical rotation of plane polarized light. Compounds with this property have chiral molecules.

Complete Step By Step Answer:
A substance which is optically active that rotates the plane polarized light in a clockwise (that is towards the right)direction known as dextrorotatory or d+ compound. This refers to the properties of the plane that is rotating the plane polarized light.when the light is rotated in a clockwise manner it is approaching an observer, and this is called dextrorotation. A compound which follows this dextrorotation is known as dextrorotatory compound and if that compound is following levorotation it is known as levorotatory. The example for dextrorotatory is D-(+)-glyceraldehyde. And L-(+)-alanine.

Note :
Compounds which have the property of dextrorotation are known to have optical activity which consists of a chiral molecule. If the chiral molecule is dextrorotatory then its enantiomer will be a levorotatory, that is it will rotate in an anticlockwise direction and vice versa. An enantiomer rotates with plane polarized light having the same number of degrees, but the direction is opposite. If the given compound is said to be dextrorotatory then the mirror image formed will be a levorotatory. When there is a presence of “L” in the prefix of the compound that does not mean it’s a levo compound. For example- L*amino acids is known to be dextrorotatory.