The D and L stereoisomers of glyceraldehyde are based on an __ chemical property in polarized light a. unbranched chain b. mirror positions c. optical d. branched chain

## Step 1<br />The D and L stereoisomers of glyceraldehyde are based on their ability to rotate plane-polarized light. This property is known as optical activity.<br /><br />## Step 2<br />The D and L designations are based on the position of the hydroxyl group (-OH) in the molecule. In the D form, the -OH group is on the right in a Fischer projection, while in the L form, it is on the left.<br /><br />## Step 3<br />The terms "unbranched chain" and "branched chain" refer to the structure of the molecule, not its optical activity. Therefore, these options are not correct.<br /><br />## Step 4<br />The term "mirror positions" refers to the fact that D and L forms are mirror images of each other, but this is a result of their optical activity, not the cause of it.