Molecular asymmetry, arising from the non-superimposability of mirror images due to an asymmetric carbon, is responsible for the optical activity observed in organic compounds, where the mirror images rotate plane-polarized light in equal magnitude but opposite direction.
What is the relationship between molecular asymmetry and optical activity in organic compounds?
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The relationship between molecular asymmetry and optical activity lies in the presence of chiral centers within a molecule. A molecule is optically active when it possesses one or more chiral centers, leading to non-superimposable mirror-image isomers called enantiomers. Enantiomers exhibit optical rotation in opposite directions when interacting with plane-polarized light. Molecular asymmetry results from the spatial arrangement of atoms around a chiral center, introducing chirality. The optical activity in organic compounds is a consequence of their molecular asymmetry, particularly the presence of chiral elements that impart distinct optical properties to enantiomers due to their non-identical three-dimensional structures.