When are some of the physical and chemical properties of enantiomers indistinguishable from one another?
1 Answer
Oct 6, 2015
See explanation.
Explanation:
Since enantiomers contains the same molecular structure and therefore the same functional groups they will carry the same intermolecular interactions.
And since physical properties depend on intermolecular interactions, the physical properties of enantiomers will be the same in the case of boiling point and melting point .
However, this does not apply to the way they interact with a plane polarized light, therefore, they will have different optical rotation which is also a physical property.
Image source: Organic Chemistry-Janice Gorzynski Smith 3rd Ed
