optical isomerism

American  

noun

Chemistry.

1. stereoisomerism in which the isomers are identical in molecular weight and most chemical and physical properties but differ in their effect on the rotation of polarized light.

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optical isomerism British  

noun

1. isomerism of chemical compounds in which the two isomers differ only in that their molecules are mirror images of each other See also dextrorotation laevorotatory racemize

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Other Word Forms

• optical isomer
  noun

Etymology

Origin of optical isomerism

First recorded in 1890–95