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WHY CERTAIN SUBSTANCE SHOW DEXTRO AND LEAVO ROTATORY CHARACTERS

An optically active compound can exist in two isomeric forms which rotate the plane polarised light in opposite directions .These are called optical isomers and the phenomena is called optical isomerism..
The isomer which rotates the plane of polarised light to the right (clock wise direction ) is known as dextro rotatory isomer or + isomer .The isomer which rotates the plane of polarised light to the left (anti clock wise direction ) is known as laevo rotatory isomer or( -) isomer .The optical rotatory powers of two isomers are equal in magnitude but opposite in sign . 


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