Final answer:
The molecule H₃C−OH-CH₃ has no chiral centers, thus it exists only as a single stereoisomer. The correct answer to the student's question is Option A: 1.
Step-by-step explanation:
The molecule H₃C−OH-CH₃, which is 2-propanol (isopropyl alcohol), does not have any chiral centers because each carbon atom does not have four different atoms or groups attached to it. Stereoisomers require the presence of chiral centers; specifically, for a molecule to have enantiomers, a form of stereoisomer, there must be at least one chiral center with four different atoms or groups attached. Therefore, according to the formula 2n where n is the number of chiral centers, there are no stereoisomers for this molecule as n is zero (20 = 1).
The correct answer to the question is Option A: 1 because there are no chiral centers within the molecule, meaning it does not exist as multiple stereoisomers.