Lactic acid is one of the simplest chiral molecule and exists as the two stereo isomers, L- and D-lactic acid. The L form differs from the D form in its effect on polarised light. For L-lactic acid, the plane is rotated in a clockwise (dextro) direction, whereas the D form rotates the plane in a anticlockwise (laevo) direction. illustrates these two forms. Lactic acid produced by the petrochemical route exists as a SO/50 optically inactive mixture of the L and D forms. Presently, Musashino in Japan is the sole producer of racemic lactic acid. In contrast, fermentation-derived lactic acid exists almost exclusively as L-lactic acid