What term describes a mixture of both forms of a chiral drug that can lead to side effects?

The term that accurately describes a mixture of both forms of a chiral drug is a racemic mixture. A racemic mixture contains equal amounts of both enantiomers of a chiral compound. Since enantiomers can have different physiological effects, the presence of both can lead to a range of side effects or variations in efficacy in the pharmacological treatment.

For example, one enantiomer might be therapeutically beneficial, while the other could be neutral or even harmful. In pharmaceutical formulations, the nature of the racemic mixture means that it can complicate the overall therapeutic profile of the drug.

While an enantiomeric mixture could refer to a mixture of enantiomers, it does not specifically indicate that the two forms are present in equal proportions, as a racemic mixture does. Enantiopure mixtures consist of only one enantiomer, which eliminates concerns about side effects from the alternate form. On the other hand, a chiral sample does not necessarily imply any specific ratio of enantiomers, making it a less precise term in this context.

Thus, the use of the term racemic mixture reflects the specific characteristics and implications of having both enantiomers present in equal amounts, which can lead to undesired side