How many stereoisomers can 2,3-dimethylbutane have?
Practice Questions
1 question
Q1
How many stereoisomers can 2,3-dimethylbutane have?
2
4
8
16
2,3-dimethylbutane has no chiral centers, so it has only 1 stereoisomer.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
1 item
Q
Q: How many stereoisomers can 2,3-dimethylbutane have?
Solution: 2,3-dimethylbutane has no chiral centers, so it has only 1 stereoisomer.
Steps: 4
Step 1: Understand what stereoisomers are. Stereoisomers are compounds that have the same molecular formula and connectivity of atoms but differ in the arrangement of atoms in space.
Step 2: Identify the structure of 2,3-dimethylbutane. It is a branched alkane with a four-carbon chain (butane) and two methyl groups attached to the second and third carbon.
Step 3: Check for chiral centers. A chiral center is a carbon atom that is attached to four different groups. In 2,3-dimethylbutane, none of the carbon atoms are attached to four different groups.
Step 4: Conclude that since there are no chiral centers, 2,3-dimethylbutane cannot have stereoisomers. Therefore, it has only 1 stereoisomer, which is the molecule itself.
