Antipode (chemistry)

In chemistry, antipode is synonymous with optical antipode. An optical antipode is the same as an enantiomer. A solution of enantiomer rotates plane polarized light in a certain direction. A solution of the opposite enantiomer, the antipode, rotates plane polarized light in the opposite direction.

The chemical term antipode is considered obsolete, and its use is discouraged. However, the term antipode can still be found in modern-day chemistry journals. The modern-day approved term for both antipode and optical antipode is enantiomer.