Levorotatory
Levorotatory
In the field of chemistry, the term levorotatory refers to a specific property of chiral molecules. A levorotatory compound is one that rotates the plane of polarized light to the left, or counterclockwise, when viewed from the observer's perspective. This property is an important aspect of stereochemistry, which studies the spatial arrangement of atoms in molecules.
Optical Activity[edit | edit source]
Optical activity is a phenomenon observed in chiral substances, where the substance can rotate the plane of polarized light. This property is measured using a device called a polarimeter. When a chiral compound is levorotatory, it is denoted by the prefix "(-)" or "l-" before the name of the compound. For example, (-)-lactic acid is the levorotatory form of lactic acid.
Chirality and Enantiomers[edit | edit source]
Chirality is a geometric property of some molecules and ions. A chiral molecule is not superimposable on its mirror image, much like how left and right hands are mirror images but not identical. Chiral molecules exist in two forms, known as enantiomers, which are mirror images of each other. One enantiomer will be levorotatory, while the other will be dextrorotatory, rotating light to the right.
Measurement of Optical Rotation[edit | edit source]
The degree to which a compound rotates polarized light is quantified as its specific rotation, denoted by the symbol \([\alpha]\). The specific rotation is calculated using the formula:
\[ [\alpha] = \frac{\alpha}{l \cdot c} \]
where \(\alpha\) is the observed rotation in degrees, \(l\) is the path length of the sample cell in decimeters, and \(c\) is the concentration of the sample in grams per milliliter.
Applications in Medicine[edit | edit source]
In the medical field, understanding the levorotatory and dextrorotatory properties of compounds is crucial, as different enantiomers of a drug can have vastly different effects. For example, the drug thalidomide has one enantiomer that is effective as a sedative, while the other enantiomer can cause severe birth defects.
Also see[edit | edit source]
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD