Optical isomerism

Optical isomerism is when two molecules look almost the same, but their shapes are a bit different. They are like mirror images of each other. Think about your hands - they look the same, but they are also different because they are mirror images of each other. These molecules are like this too!

Scientists use special tools to look at these molecules. They shine a special kind of light on them and see how they bend it. One type of molecule will bend it one way, and the other type will bend it in the opposite way. Scientists call this "polarizing light".

This concept is important in many fields including chemistry and biology, and helps us understand how different chemicals can act differently in our bodies. By being able to identify and separate these mirror image molecules, scientists can make better drugs and other useful things!