Question 1

Which of the following statements best describes a chiral molecule?

Accepted Answer

A molecule whose mirror image is not superimposable upon itself.

Question 2

Which of the following is a necessary condition for a carbon atom to be a chirality center?

Accepted Answer

It must be bonded to four different groups.

Question 3

A sample of a pure chiral compound rotates plane-polarized light by $+25^\circ$. What term describes this compound's optical activity?

Accepted Answer

Dextrorotatory

Question 4

Which of the following best explains why enantiomers have identical physical properties in an achiral environment?

Accepted Answer

They are nonsuperimposable mirror images and interact identically with achiral reagents.

Question 5

How many stereoisomers are possible for a molecule with three asymmetric carbon atoms?

Accepted Answer

$2^3 = 8$

Question 6

Which of the following is true about meso compounds?

Accepted Answer

They have chiral centers but are overall achiral due to an internal plane of symmetry.

Question 7

A racemic mixture is best described as:

Accepted Answer

A mixture containing equal quantities of two enantiomers and is optically inactive.

Question 8

Which device is used to measure the optical activity of a compound?

Accepted Answer

Polarimeter

Question 9

According to the Cahn-Ingold-Prelog rules, which group has the highest priority when assigning R/S configuration?

Accepted Answer

The group with the highest atomic number.

Question 10

Which of the following statements about diastereomers is correct?

Accepted Answer

They are stereoisomers that are not enantiomers and have different physical properties.

Question 11

A compound has two chiral centers and an internal plane of symmetry. Which of the following best describes this compound?

Accepted Answer

It is a meso compound.

Question 12

Which of the following is NOT a correct statement about enantiomers?

Accepted Answer

They can be separated by normal chromatography.

Question 13

Which of the following best describes the relationship between the two molecules shown below? (Assume both have the same connectivity but different spatial arrangement at one chiral center.)

Accepted Answer

They are diastereomers.

Question 14

Which of the following is a real-world consequence of chirality in biological systems?

Accepted Answer

Enantiomers can have different physiological properties due to their interactions with chiral molecules in the body.

Question 15

A solution of a chiral compound has a specific rotation of $+10^\circ$. If the observed rotation for a sample is $+2.5^\circ$ in a 1.0 dm tube at 0.25 g/mL, what is the specific rotation?

Accepted Answer

$+10^\circ$

Question 16

Which of the following is the best method for separating enantiomers in a racemic mixture?

Accepted Answer

Resolution using a chiral agent

Question 17

Which of the following statements about Fischer projections is correct?

Accepted Answer

Horizontal bonds point toward the viewer.

Question 18

Which of the following is a correct application of the Cahn-Ingold-Prelog rules for assigning priorities?

Accepted Answer

A deuterium atom (D) has higher priority than a hydrogen atom (H).

Question 19

Which of the following best describes the difference between structural isomers and stereoisomers?

Accepted Answer

Structural isomers differ in connectivity, while stereoisomers have the same connectivity but differ in spatial arrangement.

Chapter 3: Stereoisomerism and Chirality – Study Notes

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