The camphor is racemic if the following conditions are met:

1. it is not superposable on its mirror image

2. camphor and its mirror image are present in equal amounts.

Draw camphor (as supplied in the reader) and its mirror image. Compare the these structures and convince yourself that they are not superposable (you may need to use models).


More Help

If you have never drawn a mirror image before then the following is an example that may help you. This is 2-bornanone and its mirror image.

Rotate Y by a 180 degrees yields:

and then comparing Y side-by-side with W may help in determining if they are superposable or not superposable. (answer)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(by the way, Y and W are not superposable )