Question

If the enantiomeric excess of a mixture is 79%, what are the percent compositions of the major and minor enantiomer?

Answer 1

The mixture contains 89.5 % of the major enantiomer and 10.5 % of the minor isomer.

Explanation:

Let's say that the (+) isomer is in excess.

Then,

`color(blue)(|bar(ul(color(white)(a/a) % ("+") = (ee)/2 +50 %color(white)(a/a)|)))" "`

∴ `% (+) = "79 %"/2 +50 % = 39.5 % + 50 % = 89.5 %`

and

`"% (-)" = "100 % - 89.5 %" = 10.5 %`