Q. If there is no rotation of plane polarised light by a compound in a specific solvent, though to be chiral, it may mean that
A) the compound is certainly meso
B) there is no compound in the solvent
C) the compound may be a racemic mixture
D) the compound is certainly achiral
Explanation
[Solution from source] A compound believed to be chiral can still show no rotation if it is present as a racemic mixture, where equal amounts of the two enantiomers cancel each other. 'Certainly meso' is too strong: a meso compound is not chiral at all, and a racemate explains the observation equally well. Answer (3).
Reviewed by Dr. Abubacker
Physics Educator & NEET/JEE Specialist
Ph.D. in Physics with 19+ years of teaching experience.