Which Statement is True Regarding the Optical Activity of a Pair

Question

Which statement is true regarding the optical activity of a pair of enantiomers?
A) Each of its members rotates the plane of polarized light by unequal degrees in opposite directions.
B) Each of its members rotates the plane of polarized light by unequal degrees in the same direction.
C) Each of its members rotates the plane of polarized light by equal degrees in opposite directions.
D) Each of its members rotates the plane of polarized light by equal degrees in the same direction.

Accepted Answer

Enantiomers are mirror images of each other and have the same physical and chemical properties except for their optical activity. Optical activity is the ability of a substance to rotate the plane of polarized light. Enantiomers have equal magnitude but opposite direction of optical rotation, which means they rotate the plane of polarized light by equal degrees in opposite directions. Therefore, option C is the correct choice.