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Multiple Choice
Which of the following molecules is chiral and can produce an intermediate phenotype in a racemic mixture?
A
ethanol
B
2-butanol
C
2-propanol
D
acetone
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the concept of chirality: A molecule is chiral if it has a non-superimposable mirror image, often due to the presence of an asymmetric carbon atom (a carbon atom bonded to four different groups).
Identify the molecules given in the problem: ethanol, 2-butanol, 2-propanol, and acetone.
Examine each molecule for chirality: Look for an asymmetric carbon atom in each molecule. Ethanol (C₂H₅OH) and acetone (C₃H₆O) do not have asymmetric carbon atoms, so they are achiral.
Analyze 2-propanol (C₃H₇OH): It has a central carbon atom bonded to two hydrogen atoms, a hydroxyl group, and a methyl group, which means it is not chiral as it lacks four different groups.
Evaluate 2-butanol (C₄H₉OH): The second carbon atom is bonded to a hydroxyl group, a methyl group, an ethyl group, and a hydrogen atom, making it chiral. A racemic mixture of 2-butanol can produce an intermediate phenotype due to the presence of both enantiomers.