Chapter 14, Problem 7P

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

To determine why 2-Pentanol is chiral and 3-Pentanol is not.

Concept Introduction:

A molecule is said to be chiral if it cannot be superimposed on its mirror image and if it does not possess an alternate axis of symmetry.

A carbon atom bonded in a tetrahedral structure to four different substituents in a molecule, it is called as a chiral centre.

If an organic molecule has more than one chiral carbon or chiral centre then the molecule may be achiral or chiral and it is depend upon whether the molecule has element of symmetry or not.

The elements of symmetry are-

• A plane of symmetry
• A centre of symmetry
• n-fold alternating axis of symmetry