1. Tardigrade
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  4. The number of optically active isomers of tartaric acid are:

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Q. The number of optically active isomers of tartaric acid are:

Bihar CECEBihar CECE 2003

Solution:

Optical isomerism is shown by compounds in which at least one asymmetric carbon atom and it should not have plane of symmetry. Tartaric acid has 2 asymmetric carbon atoms.
Total no. of optical isomers $=(2)^{n}$
(where $ n=no. $ of asymmetric carbon atom).
$=(2)^{2}=4$
Out of these 4 optical isomers two are meso structures which are optically in active.
$\therefore $ Only 2 structures d and $l$ tartaric acid are optically active.
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