Enantiomer - Criterion of Enantiomerism

Criterion of Enantiomerism

Most compounds that contain one or more asymmetric carbon atoms show enantiomerism. But this is not always true.

There are a few known compounds that do have asymmetric carbons, but, being non-dissymetric with respect to the whole molecule, do not show enantiomerism. Thus, meso tartaric acid has two asymmetric carbons but is still optically inactive because they are equal and opposite to each other.

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