Question

from which latin word symbol S has come in nomenclature of optically active isomers?

Answer 1

Symbol S is a latin word meaning Sinister and it means left handed.

Optically active isomers means isomers which are able to rotate plane polarized light.

We have R and S isomers and R isomers rotate the plane polarized light to the right hand side and S isomer rotates the plane polarized light to the left.

R also comes from a Latin word Rectus which means right handed.

Organic compounds having chiral carbon have both R and S configurations.