This is so because two different
compounds with same configuration at asymmetric centre may have
different optical rotation One may be dextrorotatory (plus sign of
optical rotation) while other may be laevorotatory (negative sign of
optical rotation) (iv) Inversion, retention and racemisation: There are three outcomes
for a reaction at an asymmetric carbon atom, when a bond directly
linked to an asymmetric carbon atom is broken Consider the
replacement of a group X by Y in the following reaction;
If (A) is the only compound obtained, the process is called retention
of configuration