Textbook Question
Define the following terms:
b. Achiral
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Ch.14 Some Compounds with Oxygen, Sulfur, or a Halogen
McMurry8th EditionFundamentals of GOBISBN: 9780134015187
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Table of contents
- Ch.1 Matter and Measurements27
- Ch.2 Atoms and the Periodic Table20
- Ch.3 Ionic Compounds8
- Ch.4 Molecular Compounds23
- Ch.5 Classification & Balancing of Chemical Reactions12
- Ch.6 Chemical Reactions: Mole and Mass Relationships28
- Ch.7 Chemical Reactions: Energy, Rate and Equilibrium64
- Ch.8 Gases, Liquids and Solids24
- Ch.9 Solutions52
- Ch.10 Acids and Bases25
- Ch.11 Nuclear Chemistry22
- Ch.12 Introduction to Organic Chemistry: Alkanes57
- Ch.13 Alkenes, Alkynes, and Aromatic Compounds47
- Ch.14 Some Compounds with Oxygen, Sulfur, or a Halogen50
- Ch.15 Aldehydes and Ketones45
- Ch.16 Amines42
- Ch.17 Carboxylic Acids and Their Derivatives57
- Ch.18 Amino Acids and Proteins82
- Ch.19 Enzymes and Vitamins63
- Ch.20 Carbohydrates44
- Ch.21 The Generation of Biochemical Energy65
- Ch.22 Carbohydrate Metabolism45
- Ch.23 Lipids42
- Ch.24 Lipid Metabolism33
- Ch.25 Protein and Amino Acid Metabolism24
- Ch.26 Nucleic Acids and Protein Synthesis45
Chapter 14, Problem 59d
Are the following molecules chiral or achiral? If they are chiral, identify the chiral carbon atom(s).
d. 
Verified step by step guidance1
Step 1: Understand the concept of chirality. A molecule is chiral if it cannot be superimposed on its mirror image. This typically occurs when a carbon atom is bonded to four different groups.
Step 2: Examine the structure of the molecule provided in the image. Identify all carbon atoms and check if each carbon is bonded to four distinct groups.
Step 3: For each carbon atom, verify the groups attached. If a carbon atom has four different substituents, it is a chiral center.
Step 4: If the molecule contains one or more chiral centers, it is chiral. If no chiral centers are present, the molecule is achiral.
Step 5: Mark the chiral carbon atom(s) on the structure provided in the image, if applicable, and confirm the molecule's chirality status.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Chirality
Chirality is a property of a molecule that indicates it cannot be superimposed on its mirror image. This occurs when a carbon atom is bonded to four different substituents, creating non-superimposable mirror images known as enantiomers. Chirality is crucial in many biological processes and can affect the behavior of molecules in chemical reactions.
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Chirality Example 1
Chiral Carbon Atom
A chiral carbon atom, also known as a stereocenter, is a carbon atom that is attached to four different groups or atoms. The presence of such a carbon in a molecule is what makes it chiral. Identifying chiral carbon atoms is essential for determining the chirality of the entire molecule and understanding its stereochemistry.
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Achirality
Achirality refers to molecules that are superimposable on their mirror images, meaning they do not have chiral centers. These molecules can have symmetrical structures or may contain identical substituents on the carbon atoms. Understanding achirality is important for distinguishing between chiral and achiral compounds in stereochemical analysis.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question
Define the following terms:
c. Chiral carbon
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Textbook Question
Identify the chiral center(s) in each of the following molecules:
a. 2-Methyl-3-pentanol
940
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Textbook Question
Name all unbranched ether and alcohol isomers with formula C5H12O and write their structural formulas.
975
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Textbook Question
Phenols undergo the same kind of substitution reactions that other aromatic compounds do. Formulate the reaction of p-methylphenol with Br2 to give a mixture of two substitution products.
899
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Textbook Question
Which of the alcohols pictured in Problem 14.48 are chiral? Indicate the chiral carbons for those that are chiral.
a.
b.
c. 2,3-Pentanediol
d.
e.
f.
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