
Is hydroxy propanoic acid optically active?
Answer
405.3k+ views
Hint: Optical activity of a compound is defined as the ability of a substance or compound to rotate the plane polarized light. When the plane polarized light passes through the solution of the substance, it can rotate the plane polarized light either in the clockwise direction or in the anti-clockwise direction.
Complete answer:
Optical activity of the compound is the function of the presence or the absence of the chiral atom in it.
So, the optically active compound can be in the dextrorotatory form and the Laevorotatory form.
So, let’s see the structure of the hydroxy propanoic acid.
As we can see from the above figure that the hydroxyl propanoic acid has a centre chiral atom or carbon, it has four different groups satisfying its valence. The four different groups bonded to the chiral centre are the hydrogen, the methyl group, the carboxylic group and the hydroxyl group.
So, we can say it is very clear from the above discussion that the hydroxyl propanoic acid is an optically active compound as it has a chiral centre in it.
So the answer to our question is –: yes hydroxy propanoic acid is optically active.
Note:
So, let’s see what is the chiral atom – so chiral atom is the atom which has all four different groups bonded to it. Only those substances are optically active, which have a chiral centre. Generally a chiral centre is denoted by the ‘asterisk sign’. This is an important aspect in determining structure.
Complete answer:
Optical activity of the compound is the function of the presence or the absence of the chiral atom in it.
So, the optically active compound can be in the dextrorotatory form and the Laevorotatory form.
So, let’s see the structure of the

As we can see from the above figure that the
So, we can say it is very clear from the above discussion that the
So the answer to our question is –: yes
Note:
So, let’s see what is the chiral atom – so chiral atom is the atom which has all four different groups bonded to it. Only those substances are optically active, which have a chiral centre. Generally a chiral centre is denoted by the ‘asterisk sign’. This is an important aspect in determining structure.
Recently Updated Pages
Earth rotates from West to east ATrue BFalse class 6 social science CBSE

The easternmost longitude of India is A 97circ 25E class 6 social science CBSE

Write the given sentence in the passive voice Ann cant class 6 CBSE

Convert 1 foot into meters A030 meter B03048 meter-class-6-maths-CBSE

What is the LCM of 30 and 40 class 6 maths CBSE

What is history A The science that tries to understand class 6 social science CBSE

Trending doubts
State and prove Bernoullis theorem class 11 physics CBSE

What are Quantum numbers Explain the quantum number class 11 chemistry CBSE

Write the differences between monocot plants and dicot class 11 biology CBSE

Who built the Grand Trunk Road AChandragupta Maurya class 11 social science CBSE

1 ton equals to A 100 kg B 1000 kg C 10 kg D 10000 class 11 physics CBSE

State the laws of reflection of light
