Definition

Relating to a chemical compound that has equal amounts of two different forms, which do not affect the direction of polarized light.

Example

The racemic mixture was used in the experiment to study its properties.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of a racemic mixture?

Yeah, I think it has to do with chemical compounds, right?

Exactly! It contains equal amounts of two different forms of the same compound.

That's fascinating! I didn't know it could affect how light interacts with them.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Racemic → It is formed from "racemus" (from Latin, meaning a bunch or cluster of grapes) and the suffix "-ic" (meaning pertaining to). The word "racemic" refers to a mixture that contains equal amounts of left- and right-handed enantiomers, similar to how grapes grow in clusters.

Memory Tip

Think of a 'bunch' ('racemus') of grapes to remember that 'racemic' refers to a mixture of two types, just like a cluster of grapes can contain different varieties.

Visually Confused Words