Word Study
racemic
CIDE DICTIONARY
racemic, a. [Cf. F. racémique. See Raceme.].
Pertaining to, or designating, an acid found in many kinds of grapes. It is also obtained from tartaric acid, with which it is isomeric, and from sugar, gum, etc., by oxidation. It is a sour white crystalline substance, consisting of a combination of dextrorotatory and levorotatory tartaric acids. Gregory. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
racemic, adj. Chem. composed of equal numbers of dextrorotatory and laevorotatory molecules of a compound.
Derivative
racemize v.tr. & intr. (also -ise).
Etymology
RACEME + -IC, orig. of tartaric acid in grape-juice
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