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🔄 Mixing mirror forms ⏳ Age estimation
racemization

racemization

9.9
Change that makes a chemical become an equal mix of its mirror-image forms so it stops rotating light
  • noun
  • /ˌreɪsəˈmaɪzeɪʃən/
  • Specialized
translation icon : racemización
  • The racemization process can occur under specific conditions.

Examples

  • During storage, some drugs may undergo racemization, affecting their safety and potency.

  • Scientists studied the rate of racemization under different temperature conditions.

  • The racemization of the amino acid reduced its effectiveness in the biological reaction.

  • During racemization, the compound loses its optical activity.

  • During the experiment, the team observed the racemization of the substance, which led to a balance of its enantiomers.

  • The racemization process made the once optically active compound inactive as it became a 50/50 mixture.

  • In synthetic chemistry, racemization can significantly affect the properties and behavior of chiral molecules.

Surface Forms

racemization singular
racemizations plural

Etymology

Racemization comes from the Latin racemus 'bunch of grapes' because a substance found in grapes was discovered as a 50/50 mix of two mirror forms, so racemization means turning a compound into a 'balanced mix' of those mirror-image parts.