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Despite of containing two stereocenters (chiral centers) meso-tartaric acid is not chiral, because it is not stereospecific in the center of the molecule as a whole.

A meso compound is superposable on its mirror image, and it does not produce a "(+)" or "(-)" reading when analyzed with a polarimeter.

For example, of the 3 possible isomers of tartaric acid (depicted in 'Related links'), there is one mesocompound (the 2R,3S and 2S,3R isomers are equivalent) and two other optically active stereo-isomeric forms:

dextrotartaric acid (L-(R,R)-(+)-tartaric acid) and

levotartaric acid (D-(S,S)-(-)-tartaric acid).

Only in the meso compound an internal plane of symmetry exists, bisecting the molecule which is not present in the non-meso compounds. That is, on rotating the meso compound by 180° on a plane perpendicular to the screen, the same stereochemistry is obtained.

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Q: Why is mesotartaric acid optically inactive?
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Related questions

An optically inactive amino acid is?

Glycine


Write the name of optically inactive amino acid?

Glycine, or aminoethanoic acid is the only amino acid that is not optically active as it does not contain a chiral carbon. C2H5NO2


What is the chemical formula of mesotartaric acid?

C4H6O6


Are diastereomers optically active?

Not necessarily , the meso form is optically inactive.


What is asymmetrical symmetry?

The synthesis of an optically active compound from an optically inactive compound with or without using an optically active reagent.


What is difference between a racemic mixture and a meso compound?

Both are optically inactive, but for different reasons. A racemic mixture contains chiral molecules that, individually, are optically active. But the mixture contains optically active enantiomers, which essentially cancel out each other's optical activity (one enantiomer rotates light one way, the other rotates it back). A meso compound, however, is optically inactive on its own. It can have chiral centers within its structure, but due to symmetry it will still be optically inactive.


What is the difference between optical isomer and optically active isomer?

Optical isomers are those which have one or more asymmetric carbon atoms their optical activity means a tendency to rotate the plane of plane polarized light but some of such molecules have an internal symmetry as meso form of Tartaric acid , this is the optical isomer of Tartaric acid but is optically inactive.


What is A mixture of equal amounts of two enantiomers?

its called a racemic mixture and is optically inactive


Racemic mixtures and meso compounds?

solution containing equal amounts of enantiomers.it is optically inactive.


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

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.


What a zero specific rotation represent?

It means substance is optically inactive ,it is either a Recemic mixture or a Meso form of a compound


Why meso compounds are optically inactive?

A meso compoundis a molecule with multiple stereocenters that is superimposable on its mirror image. These particular traits lead to specific qualities that meso compoundsdo not share with most other stereoisomers. One such quality is the internal mirror plane. Optically inactive compounds are any that cannot be superimposed on itself.