Optical Isomerism

Optical isomerism is a type of stereoisomerism related to the spatial arrangement of atoms in molecules. It occurs when a molecule can exist in two forms that are mirror images of each other, called enantiomers. These enantiomers have identical physical properties but interact differently with light and biological systems. When polarized light passes through a solution of one enantiomer, it rotates in one direction, while the other enantiomer will rotate it in the opposite direction. This unique property has important implications in fields like pharmaceuticals, where different enantiomers can have different effects in the body.