Enantiomers and the Tetrahedral Carbon A molecule of (+)-lactic acid can not superimpose on a molecule of (-)-lactic acid (a) Mismatch (b) H H OH Mismatch HO >C02H HO C -CO2H CH3 Mismatch C Mismatch HO-C-CH3 HC-CO2H →C02H CH3 Regardless of how the molecules are oriented,they are not identical When the-H and -OH substituents match up,the -CO2H and the CHa substituents do not When-CO2H and the CH3 match up,-H and-OH do not A molecule of (+)-lactic acid can not superimpose on a molecule of (-)-lactic acid Regardless of how the molecules are oriented, they are not identical ▪ When the –H and –OH substituents match up, the –CO2H and the CH3 substituents do not ▪ When –CO2H and the CH3 match up, -H and –OH do not Enantiomers and the Tetrahedral Carbon