Q.Hydrolysis of sucrose into glucose and fructose is associated with change in specific optical rotation. The phenomenon is known as

Sucrose (dextrorotatory, +66.5) hydrolyses to glucose + fructose whose mixture is laevorotatory (-20); the sign of rotation inverts, so the process is called inversion. Correct option (b).

Sucrose is dextrorotatory. On hydrolysis it gives an equimolar mixture of D-glucose (+52.5) and D-fructose (-92); because fructose's strong laevorotation dominates, the product mixture is net laevorotatory. Thus the specific rotation changes sign (dextro -> laevo), and the phenomenon is termed inversion; the product is called invert sugar.

…