Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first video
Multiple Choice
Which of the following molecules is most likely to exhibit chirality?
A
ethanol
B
methane
C
acetone
D
2-butanol
Verified step by step guidance
1
Identify the concept of chirality: A molecule is chiral if it has a non-superimposable mirror image, often due to the presence of a carbon atom bonded to four different groups.
Examine the structure of ethanol: Ethanol (CH₃CH₂OH) has a carbon atom bonded to three hydrogen atoms and one hydroxyl group, which does not meet the criteria for chirality.
Examine the structure of methane: Methane (CH₄) consists of a carbon atom bonded to four hydrogen atoms, which are identical, thus it cannot be chiral.
Examine the structure of acetone: Acetone (CH₃COCH₃) has a central carbon atom double-bonded to an oxygen and single-bonded to two identical methyl groups, which does not allow for chirality.
Consider 2-butanol: 2-butanol (CH₃CH(OH)CH₂CH₃) has a central carbon atom bonded to four different groups (methyl, ethyl, hydroxyl, and hydrogen), making it chiral and capable of existing as enantiomers.