Thus optical inactivity results from the random distribution of molecules that can serve as mirror images of each other. Chirality Molecules that are not superimposable on their mirror images are chiral . Note - The presence or absence of a chiral center is no criterion of chirality. We may move molecules only in the plane of paper use models when in doubt. Enantiomers have identical physical properties except for the direction of rotation of plane polarized light.
Enantiomers have identical chemical properties except toward optically active reagents.
Muliply bonded atoms are considered as if they were an equivalent number of singly bonded atoms. Diastereomers Look at a molecule that has 2 adjacent chiral centers. 2,3-dichloropentane Draw configurations Now let's change configuration of only one carbon. Each member of this pair is a diastereomer of each member of the first pair. Diastereomer - stereoisomers that are not mirror images of each other.