(S)-(+)-Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a flavor enhancer used in many foods. Some people ha...

(S)-(+)-Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a flavor enhancer used in many foods. Some people have an allergic reaction to MSG (headache, chest pain, and an overall feeling of weakness). “Fast food” often contains substantial amounts of MSG, which is widely used in Chinese food as well. MSG has a specific rotation of +24.

a. What is the specific rotation of (R)-(—)-monosodium glutamate?

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b. What is the specific rotation of a racemic mixture of monosodium glutamate?