An unknown sample is tested with a polarimeter for optical activity.The results of the test required no movement of the analyzer.What samples would give this result?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Both meso compounds and racemic mixtures would give this result. Meso compounds are achiral despite having chiral centers because they have an internal plane of symmetry, leading to no net optical activity. Racemic mixtures consist of equal amounts of enantiomers, which rotate plane-polarized light in opposite directions by equal amounts, canceling each other's optical activity.

An Unknown Sample Is Tested with a Polarimeter for Optical