Question

Is ( R )-sodium lactate dextrorotatory or levorotatory?

Answer 1

Sodium `(R)`-lactate is dextrorotatory.

Explanation:

Sodium `(S)`-2-hydroxypropanoate (or sodium L-lactate) is produced from pyruvate by the enzyme lactate dehydrogenase.

The commercially available product is 98 % pure and has `α_"D"^20 = -12^°`.

So the enantiomeric salt sodium `(R)`-lactate would have `α_"D"^20 = +12^°`.

Sodium `(R)`-lactate is dextrorotatory.