Question

For a racemic mixture of 1,2-dibromo-1,2-diphenylethane, how does the density compare to that of its enantiomerically pure forms?

A. The density is higher than the enantiomerically pure forms.
B. The density is lower than the enantiomerically pure forms.
C. The density is the same as the enantiomerically pure forms.
D. The density is unpredictable and depends on other factors.

Answer 1

The density of a racemic mixture of 1,2-dibromo-1,2-diphenylethane is the same as its enantiomerically pure forms because enantiomers have identical physical properties, including density.

Step-by-step explanation:

For a racemic mixture of 1,2-dibromo-1,2-diphenylethane, the density compared to its enantiomerically pure forms remains the same, C. The density is the same as the enantiomerically pure forms. This is because enantiomers have identical physical properties, such as boiling points, melting points, and densities. Each enantiomer in a racemic mixture contributes equally to the overall density of the mixture. The only physical property that differs between enantiomers is their ability to rotate plane-polarized light in opposite directions, which does not affect density.

Answer option C is correct because a racemic mixture is a 50:50 mixture of two enantiomers, and since enantiomers have the same physical properties apart from their optical activity, there is no difference in density between a racemic mixture and its enantiomerically pure forms.