Question

Which of the following is 'not' true about enantiomers?

• A. They have the same chemical reactivity.
• B. They have the same specific rotation.
• C. They have the same melting or boiling point.
• D. They have the same refractive index.

Hint:

Enantiomers have identical physical properties except for the direction of optical rotation. Diastereomers have different physical properties.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Enantiomers are non-superimposable mirror images of each other. They share identical physical properties in an achiral environment.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Enantiomers have identical melting points, boiling points, and refractive indices because their intermolecular forces are identical.
They also show the same chemical reactivity towards achiral reagents.
However, enantiomers differ in their interaction with plane-polarized light.
They rotate the plane of polarized light by the same magnitude but in opposite directions (one is dextrorotatory, the other is levorotatory).
Therefore, they do not have the "same" specific rotation; they have "equal and opposite" rotations.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Statement (B) is false.