Question

Question:Is cocaine (Worked Example 5-2) dextrorotatory or levorotatory?

Short answer

Answer

Cocaine is levorotatory.

Step-by-step solution

About cocaine

An organic drug that is made up of amine, ester, and carboxylic groups is cocaine.The molecular formula of this compound is C1₇H₂₁NO₄.

About dextrorotation and levorotation

Dextrorotation is the rotation of a chemical molecule towards the right side of the plane of polarized light and levorotation is the reverse of it.

About the rotation of cocaine

The structure of cocaine is given below:

Cocaine

The worked example 5-2 that is cocaine is levorotatory as this molecule rotates the plane polarised light towards left.