Identify the following molecules as chiral or achiral. If chiral, draw the nonsuperimposable mirror image and verify its nonsuperimposability.
(e)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Analyze the molecular structure provided in the image. The molecule is a benzene ring with two substituents: one methyl group and one ethyl group attached to adjacent carbon atoms on the ring.
2. Step 2: Determine if the molecule has a plane of symmetry. A molecule is achiral if it has a plane of symmetry, meaning one half of the molecule is a mirror image of the other half.
3. Step 3: Observe the substituents on the benzene ring. The methyl and ethyl groups are positioned such that the molecule has a plane of symmetry passing through the benzene ring and the substituents. This symmetry indicates that the molecule is achiral.
4. Step 4: Since the molecule is achiral, it does not have nonsuperimposable mirror images. Chiral molecules lack symmetry and have stereocenters, which this molecule does not possess.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the molecule is achiral based on the analysis of symmetry and the absence of stereocenters.

Key Concepts

Chirality

Chirality refers to the geometric property of a molecule that makes it non-superimposable on its mirror image. A chiral molecule typically has a carbon atom bonded to four different substituents, leading to two distinct forms known as enantiomers. Understanding chirality is crucial for determining the optical activity of compounds, which is important in fields like pharmaceuticals.

Nonsuperimposable Mirror Images

Nonsuperimposable mirror images are pairs of structures that cannot be aligned perfectly, even when rotated or flipped. This concept is central to chirality, as chiral molecules possess such mirror images, known as enantiomers. To verify nonsuperimposability, one can use models or drawings to demonstrate that the two forms cannot be made to coincide.

Achirality

Achirality describes molecules that are superimposable on their mirror images, meaning they do not have a distinct left or right form. Achiral molecules often have a plane of symmetry or identical substituents around a central atom, which eliminates the possibility of forming enantiomers. Recognizing achiral structures is essential for distinguishing them from chiral ones in organic chemistry.