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How do you identify meso compounds?

Answer 1

A #"meso"# is an #RS# compound; so you have to assign the stereocentres. Obviously, the molecule has to be symmetric about the 2 stereocentres.

An example of a #meso# compound is #RS#-2,3-butanediol. Note that such a formula could give rise to #R,R# and #S,S# stereoisomers.

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Answer 2

Ellie Adams

Meso compounds can be identified by having a plane of symmetry, which divides the compound into two halves that are mirror images of each other. This symmetry results in meso compounds being optically inactive despite having chiral centers. Additionally, meso compounds often have an even number of chiral centers and an internal symmetry that cancels out any potential optical activity.

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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.