Question

Racemic compound has

• A. equimolar mixture of enantiomers
• B. 1 : 1 mixture of enantiomer and diastereomer
• C. 1 : 1 mixture of diastereomers
• D. 1 : 2 mixture of enantiomers

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

When $50\%d$ -form is mixed with $50\%$ l form, a racemic mixture is obtained.

Hence, an equimolar mixture of the enantiomers (dextro or laevo forms) is called racemic mixture.

It is represented as $dl$ form or $\pm$ form and is optically inactive due to external compensation. Separation of racemic mixture into $d-$ and $l$ -forms is called resolution.