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Dextrorotatory for Dummies

adjective

pronunciation: ,dɛkstroʊ'roʊ,tətoʊri

What does Dextrorotatory really mean?

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Hey there! So, "dextrorotatory" is a pretty big word, but I'll break it down for you. You know how when you stir a spoon in a cup of coffee, it might spin in one direction or the other? Well, "dextrorotatory" is kind of like that, but with molecules instead of a spoon.

When a molecule is dextrorotatory, it means that it rotates light in a clockwise direction. This happens because of the way the atoms in the molecule are arranged. It's kind of like how a key only fits into a lock one way - the atoms in the molecule have to line up just right to make it rotate light in that specific direction.

Now, there's another word that's kind of the opposite of dextrorotatory, and that's "levorotatory." When a molecule is levorotatory, it rotates light in a counterclockwise direction. So, it's like stirring the spoon in the opposite direction.

I hope that helps you understand what "dextrorotatory" means! It can be a tricky concept, but I think you've got it now. Any other questions about it?

Revised and Fact checked by Sophia Wilson on 2023-11-15 05:14:29

Dextrorotatory In a sentece

Learn how to use Dextrorotatory inside a sentece

  • When you stir the sugar in your coffee in a clockwise direction, it is dextrorotatory, which means it spins to the right.
  • The propeller on a plane is dextrorotatory, as it turns in a rightward direction to create lift and move the plane forward.
  • Some molecules in chemistry are dextrorotatory, meaning they rotate light to the right when it passes through them.
  • When you twist a screwdriver to the right to tighten a screw, it is dextrorotatory because it has a rightward rotation.
  • The motion of a spinning top is dextrorotatory if it rotates in a rightward direction. This causes it to spin clockwise when viewed from above.

Dextrorotatory Synonyms

Words that can be interchanged for the original word in the same context.

Dextrorotatory Similar Words

Words that similar to the original word, but are not synonyms.