Article
Article
Racemization
Article By:
Wilen, Samuel H. Formerly, Department of Chemistry, City College of the City University of New York, New York, New York.
Last reviewed:January 2020
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.565600
The formation of a racemate from a pure enantiomer. Alternatively stated, racemization is the conversion of one enantiomer into a 50:50 mixture of the two enantiomers (+ and −, or R and S) of a substance. Racemization is normally associated with the loss of optical activity over a period of time since 50:50 mixtures of enantiomers are optically inactive. See also: Optical activity
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