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dextro-

dextro-

7.9
Shows that something is on the right side when placed at the start of scientific and medical words
  • other
  • Specialized
: dextro-
  • In chemistry, dextro- refers to substances that rotate polarized light to the right.

Examples

  • The dextro- rotation of the molecule indicates that it twists to the right.

  • And so it is termed D as in dextro rotatory from the Latin word for right dextro rotatory.

  • So this is called dextro rotatory.

  • Many amino acids with the dextro- configuration are essential for human life.

Surface Forms

dextro- main

Etymology

Dextro- comes from the Latin root dexter, which means 'right'. You can remember it from words like ambidextrous, and in medicine or chemistry dextro- marks something on the 'right' side or a clockwise, rightward turn, as in dextrocardia or dextro-rotation.