Question

Identify which of the following molecules are chiral and which are not. Assign each item to the appropriate bin.

(A question about specific molecules and chirality would need to be provided for options)
A) Chiral molecules
B) Non-chiral molecules
C) Both chiral and non-chiral molecules
D) Not enough information to determine

Answer 1

A chiral molecule cannot be superimposed on its mirror image and usually contains a carbon with four different substituents. Molecules with formulas like CH3CH2COOH are typically not chiral, while isomers of C3H6O2 may or may not be chiral depending on their specific structural arrangements, which requires a detailed structural formula to confirm. Option A is correct.

Step-by-step explanation:

To determine if a molecule is chiral or not, we look for a lack of symmetry in its structure that would prevent it from being superimposable on its mirror image. A molecule with a central carbon atom that has four different substituents (groups or atoms) attached is an example of a chiral molecule, as this means it cannot be superimposed on its mirror image. Such molecules with non-superimposable mirror images are known as enantiomers.

Considering a molecule with the formula CH3CH2COOH, for instance, we would need to analyze its structure to determine if it contains a chiral center. This molecule does not have a carbon with four different groups attached and therefore would not be chiral. However, a molecule like C3H6O2 could represent different structural isomers, and it is possible that one or more of these isomers are chiral. In such cases, detailed structural formulas are necessary to confirm chirality.

In contrast, to have cis-trans isomers, a molecule must contain a double bond—a structural feature that allows for different spatial arrangements of the groups attached to the carbon atoms in the double bond.