What is optically active?

[Chem_Mod]

Question: What does it mean to be optically active?

[Chem_Mod]

Answer: Molecules that are optically active can rotate plane-polarized light. When light is normally emitted by a source such as a lamp or a flashlight, the rays of light can be coming in any angle imaginable. Plane-polarized light is achieved by placing a filter such that all the light rays that pass through move in a parallel and unified direction. When this plane polarized light is shined on a chiral molecules, the molecule tends to be able to bend this light clockwise or counterclockwise depending on its chirality. Optically active molecules can be either designated as (+) for clockwise rotation or (-) for counterclockwise rotation.

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Does this coincide at all with eclipsed and staggered forms?

[Chem_Mod]

Does this coincide at all with eclipsed and staggered forms?

No