Lactic Acid: A Case Study in Chirality

The video tutorial explains the concept of chiral carbons in lactic acid, focusing on the central carbon atom attached to four different groups. It describes the three isomeric forms of lactic acid: D lactic acid, which is dextro rotatory and found in meat extract; L lactic acid, which is levorotatory and present in fermented sucrose; and the racemic mixture, which shows no rotation due to external compensation. The video also covers the specific rotations of these isomers and their representation using Fischer projection formulas.

What is a kiral center and how does it relate to lactic acid?

Explain the difference between D lactic acid and L lactic acid in terms of their optical activity.

What happens when a racemic mixture of D and L lactic acid is placed in a polarimeter?

What is the significance of the specific rotation values of D and L lactic acid?

Describe the concept of external compensation in the context of lactic acid.