Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
racemic
Adjective
rə-ˈsē-mik
Definition
Pertaining to a mixture of equal parts of two enantiomers of a chiral molecule, which are mirror images of each other.
Examples
- The racemic mixture of the drug was tested for its efficacy.
- In chemistry class, we learned about racemic acids and their properties.
- The flavor of the racemic compound was different from its pure enantiomer.
Meaning
Racemic refers to a specific type of chemical mixture that contains both enantiomers of a compound in equal amounts, resulting in no overall optical activity.
Synonyms
- Optically inactive
- Chiral mixture
- Stereochemistry
