The optical isomerism is shown by :a) oxalic acid b) benzoic acid c) acetic acid d) lactic acid Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?

Question

The optical isomerism is shown by :a)                                  oxalic acid                               b)                                  benzoic acid                               c)                                  acetic acid                               d)                                  lactic acid                               Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?

Answer

Ans-In lactic acid, there is one asymmetric carbon. H – C – OH OH – C – H | | CH3 CH3 Lactic acid has an asymmetric carbon atom and its mirror image is non superimposable i.e. mirror image represents different optical isomer. Therefore lactic acid shows the phenomenon of optical isomerism.

Answer

Lactic acid or lactate is a chemical by produced of anaerobic respiration- the process by which cells produce energy without oxygen around. Bacteria produce in it yogurt and our gust. Lactic acid is also in our blood, where its deposited muscle and red blood cells.....

Answer

Explanation:
Optical isomerism, also known as enantiomerism, is a form of stereoisomerism where two molecules are non-superimposable mirror images of each other. This occurs when a molecule has a chiral center, which is a carbon atom bonded to four different groups or atoms.

Lactic Acid:
Lactic acid, also known as 2-hydroxypropanoic acid, is an organic compound with the molecular formula C3H6O3. It is a chiral molecule as it contains a chiral carbon atom (C*) in its structure. The chiral carbon is the central carbon atom bonded to a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group (-OH), a carboxyl group (-COOH), and an organic side chain (-CH3). The presence of the chiral carbon results in the formation of two enantiomers of lactic acid.

Optical Isomerism in Lactic Acid:
Lactic acid exhibits optical isomerism because of its chiral carbon atom. The chiral carbon atom in lactic acid exists in two possible configurations: (S)-lactic acid and (R)-lactic acid. These two forms are non-superimposable mirror images of each other and are optically active.

Enantiomers:
The (S)-lactic acid isomer rotates plane-polarized light in a counterclockwise direction, and it is labeled as (-)-lactic acid. The (R)-lactic acid isomer rotates plane-polarized light in a clockwise direction, and it is labeled as (+)-lactic acid.

Physical Properties:
The two enantiomers of lactic acid have different physical properties. For example, (+)-lactic acid has a higher melting point and is less soluble in water compared to (-)-lactic acid.

Biological Significance:
Lactic acid is produced in the body during anaerobic metabolism and plays a crucial role in various physiological processes. The two enantiomers of lactic acid have different biological activities and are involved in different metabolic pathways. For instance, (+)-lactic acid is the predominant isomer produced during exercise, while (-)-lactic acid is a product of bacterial fermentation.

In conclusion, lactic acid exhibits optical isomerism due to the presence of a chiral carbon atom. The two enantiomers of lactic acid, (+)-lactic acid and (-)-lactic acid, are non-superimposable mirror images of each other and have different physical and biological properties.

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