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How can meso compounds be recognized?

Answer 1

By their symmetry.

A #"meso"# compound is a symmetric #RS# compound, with an internal plane of symmetry, such that upon reflection, the #R# group maps onto #S#. There are thus 2 chiral centres, with #RS# or #SR# configuration. To demonstrate the phenomenon, a favoured molecule is #2,3-"butanediol"#, which has 3 stereoisomers, one of which is the #"meso"#. (Why does it not 4 stereoisomers: #R,R#; #S,S#; #S,R#; and #R,S#?)

You must (i) identify the symmetry and (ii) depict that symmetry on the printed page. These are not simple tasks, so if you are having problems visualizing the symmetry or asymmetry, use a model. Do not feel embarrassed to do so.

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Answer 2

Nolan Allen

Meso compounds can be recognized by having a plane of symmetry, which divides the molecule into two identical halves. Additionally, they exhibit optical inactivity due to internal compensation of chiral centers.

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Answer from HIX Tutor

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.