An organic molecule necessarily shows optical activity if it...

An organic molecule necessarily shows optical activity if it
(a) contains asymmetric carbon atoms
(b) is non-planar
(c) is non-superimposable on its mirror image
(d) is superimposable on its mirror image

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Key Concepts

Chirality

Chirality refers to the geometric property of a molecule that makes it non-superimposable on its mirror image. This lack of mirror symmetry means that the molecule exists in two enantiomeric forms which are mirror images of each other, and this concept is central to understanding optical activity in organic molecules.

Optical Activity

Optical activity is the ability of chiral substances to rotate the plane of polarized light. This phenomenon arises from the specific three-dimensional arrangement of atoms in a molecule, and only a chiral molecule that is non-superimposable on its mirror image will exhibit this characteristic optical rotation.

Asymmetric Carbon

An asymmetric carbon, often called a chiral center, is a carbon atom bonded to four different groups. This configuration can lead to chirality in a molecule, although not every molecule with such centers will necessarily display optical activity if other symmetry elements (like those in meso compounds) are present.

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