General Chemistry II
Optical isomerism is a type of stereoisomerism where molecules can exist in two forms that are non-superimposable mirror images of each other, known as enantiomers. This phenomenon occurs due to the presence of a chiral center, typically a carbon atom bonded to four different substituents, leading to unique optical properties such as the ability to rotate plane-polarized light. Understanding optical isomerism is crucial in the study of coordination compounds, as it affects their chemical behavior and interactions in biological systems.
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