Which one of the following statements is true with respect to optical activity?
Which one of the following statements is true with respect to optical activity?
Select an option to attempt
Correct Answer: Option C
Explanation
Optical activity and stereochemistry:True statement: 'Meso compounds that are optically inactive may contain stereogenic (chiral) centers.'• A meso compound has two or more chiral centers BUT possesses an internal plane of symmetry (mirror plane within the molecule).• This internal symmetry causes the optical rotations of the two halves to cancel each other out — the compound is achiral overall and is optically INACTIVE.• Example: meso-tartaric acid has two chiral carbons but is optically inactive.Why other options are wrong:• Option 1: (R) and (S) designations do NOT predict the direction of optical rotation (+/−); this must be determined experimentally.• Option 2: A racemic mixture (equimolar D + L) is optically INACTIVE (rotations cancel).• Option 4: Optical activity IS affected by temperature (it changes the specific rotation).Answer: Option 3.