L-

l- chemical prefix specifiying the relative configuration of an enantiomer, indicating a carbohydrate with the same configuration around a specific carbon atom as l-glyceraldehyde or an amino acid having the same configuration as l-serine. Opposed to d-.

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l- /l- / levo- (left, counterclockwise, levorotatory). Opposed to d-.

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L-

pref.

Relating to the configuration of l-glyceraldehyde, a compound chosen as the basis for stereochemical nomenclature because it is the simplest carbohydrate that can form optical isomers: l-lactic acid.

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l-

pref. l-

To the left; levo: l-lactic acid.

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L-

chemical prefix (written as small capital) that specifies that the substance corresponds in chemical configuration to the standard substance l-glyceraldehyde. Carbohydrates are named by this method to distinguish them by their chemical composition. The opposite prefix is d-.

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l-

chemical abbreviation, levo- (i.e. left or counterclockwise).