racemic acid

chemical compound

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 13, 2026

Quick Summary

Racemic acid is an optically inactive form of tartaric acid that is composed of equal parts of two enantiomers: dextro-tartaric acid and levo-tartaric acid. Enantiomers are molecules that are mirror images of each other but cannot be superimposed. While each individual enantiomer can rotate plane-polarized light, their effects cancel each other out in a racemic mixture, rendering it optically inactive. Racemic tartaric acid is found in grape juice and can be formed through various oxidation processes. The study of tartaric acids by Louis Pasteur was foundational to understanding stereoisomerism.1234

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

5 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

racemic mixture
The name is derived from racemic acid, the first example of such a substance to be carefully studied. Racemic acid, or, more properly, racemic tartaric acid, is a mixture of equal amounts of dextrorotatory and levorotatory tartaric acids; it is customarily designated D- or L-, or (+)- or (–)-, respectively,…
Read More
The name is derived from racemic acid, the first example of such a substance to be carefully studied. Racemic acid, or, more properly, racemic tartaric acid, is a mixture of equal amounts of dextrorotatory and levorotatory tartaric acids; it is customarily designated D- or L-, or (+)- or (–)-, respectively,…
Read More