How do you distiguish for the optically active and in active?

Answer 1

First of all we should know what optically active molecules are

"Those molecules which possess asymmetric(chiral) carbon atoms have the ability to rotate the plane polarized light(light of one wavelength having its electrical character vibrating in one direction only) to the left or to the right are known as Optically active molecules" while those molecules not following the former scenario are known as Optically Inactive molecules.

All in all molecules having asymmetric carbon atoms are known as optically active molecules for example glucose(rotate plane polarized light to the left) & fructose(rotate plane polarized light to the right) are optically active molecules.

While molecules lacking asymmetric carbon atoms are optically inactive molecules for example water is optically inactive.

And that's how we can distinguish between these two molecular classifications.