Table of contents

1. A Review of General Chemistry5h 5m
2. Molecular Representations1h 14m
3. Acids and Bases2h 46m
4. Alkanes and Cycloalkanes4h 17m
5. Chirality3h 39m
6. Thermodynamics and Kinetics1h 22m
7. Substitution Reactions1h 48m
8. Elimination Reactions2h 30m
9. Alkenes and Alkynes2h 9m
10. Addition Reactions3h 19m
11. Radical Reactions1h 58m
12. Alcohols, Ethers, Epoxides and Thiols2h 42m
13. Alcohols and Carbonyl Compounds2h 17m
14. Synthetic Techniques1h 26m
15. Analytical Techniques:IR, NMR, Mass Spect7h 3m
16. Conjugated Systems6h 13m
17. Ultraviolet Spectroscopy51m
18. Aromaticity2h 34m
19. Reactions of Aromatics: EAS and Beyond5h 1m
20. Phenols55m
21. Aldehydes and Ketones: Nucleophilic Addition4h 56m
22. Carboxylic Acid Derivatives: NAS2h 51m
23. The Chemistry of Thioesters, Phophate Ester and Phosphate Anhydrides1h 10m
24. Enolate Chemistry: Reactions at the Alpha-Carbon1h 53m
25. Condensation Chemistry2h 9m
26. Amines1h 43m
27. Heterocycles2h 0m
28. Carbohydrates5h 53m
29. Amino Acids4h 20m
30. Peptides and Proteins2h 42m
31. Catalysis in Organic Reactions1h 30m
32. Lipids 2h 50m
33. The Organic Chemistry of Metabolic Pathways2h 52m
34. Nucleic Acids1h 32m
35. Transition Metals6h 14m
36. Synthetic Polymers1h 49m

5. Chirality

Chirality

Organic Chemistry

5. Chirality

Chirality

Previous problemNext problem

Struggling with Organic Chemistry?

Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first video

Multiple Choice

Which of the following statements is true regarding the chirality of a molecule?

A chiral molecule has an asymmetric carbon atom.

A chiral molecule is superimposable on its mirror image.

A chiral molecule has a plane of symmetry.

A chiral molecule cannot rotate plane-polarized light.

Previous problemNext problem

Verified step by step guidance

Understand the concept of chirality: A chiral molecule is one that is not superimposable on its mirror image. This is similar to how your left and right hands are mirror images but cannot be perfectly aligned on top of each other.

Identify the role of an asymmetric carbon atom: A chiral molecule typically contains at least one carbon atom bonded to four different groups, known as an asymmetric or chiral center. This asymmetry is what leads to non-superimposability.

Evaluate the statement about superimposability: A chiral molecule is not superimposable on its mirror image. Therefore, any statement claiming that a chiral molecule is superimposable is false.

Consider the presence of a plane of symmetry: A chiral molecule does not have a plane of symmetry. If a molecule has a plane of symmetry, it is considered achiral because it can be divided into two mirror-image halves.

Analyze the interaction with plane-polarized light: Chiral molecules have the ability to rotate plane-polarized light. This property is used to distinguish between different enantiomers (mirror-image isomers) of a chiral molecule.