RACEMIC MIXTURE Meaning and
Definition
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A racemic mixture refers to a combination of enantiomers, which are pairs of molecules that are mirror images of each other. Specifically, it is a mixture that contains equal amounts of both the R (right-handed) and S (left-handed) enantiomers. These enantiomers possess the same physical and chemical properties, except for their ability to rotate plane-polarized light in opposite directions. In a racemic mixture, the rotation of plane-polarized light is canceled out due to the equal contributions of both enantiomers, resulting in a net rotation of zero.
Racemic mixtures can be formed during chemical reactions that lack stereoselectivity, where the reactants do not exhibit a preference for one enantiomer over the other. They can also arise as a result of natural processes, such as the synthesis of certain compounds in living organisms.
The significance of racemic mixtures lies in their impact on various applications, especially in the field of pharmaceuticals. While one enantiomer of a drug may have desirable therapeutic effects, the other enantiomer could potentially be ineffective or even harmful. Hence, in drug development, it is crucial to separate racemic mixtures and isolate the desired enantiomer. This process is known as enantiomeric resolution and can be achieved through different techniques, including selective crystallization, chromatography, or the use of chiral catalysts.
Common Misspellings for RACEMIC MIXTURE
- eacemic mixture
- dacemic mixture
- facemic mixture
- tacemic mixture
- 5acemic mixture
- 4acemic mixture
- rzcemic mixture
- rscemic mixture
- rwcemic mixture
- rqcemic mixture
- raxemic mixture
- ravemic mixture
- rafemic mixture
- rademic mixture
- racwmic mixture
- racsmic mixture
- racdmic mixture
- racrmic mixture
- rac4mic mixture
- rac3mic mixture
Etymology of RACEMIC MIXTURE
The word "racemic" in the term "racemic mixture" is derived from the Latin word "racemus", which means "bunch of grapes". This reference to grapes is due to the shape and appearance of certain crystals that exhibit the property of "racemization", which is the interconversion of an enantiomerically pure compound into a racemic mixture. The term "mixture" is used to indicate that it is a combination of two enantiomers in equal proportions, thereby forming a racemic mixture.
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