What is polarization of light?
When light passing through a medium is organized into a particular plane, i.e. the creation of plane-polarized light.
What is an optically-active compound?
The ability of a substance to rotate plane-polarized light. When this rotation is quantified by a polarimeter, the specific rotation for a molecule can be determined.
What is a racemic mixture?
A mixture that contains equal quantities of both forms of an enantiomer - Racemic mixtures are optically-inactive.
How are racemic mixtures separated?
Liquid chromatography (preferred technique) or gas chromatography.