Which of the following compounds does NOT show optical isomerism?
Practice Questions
Q1
Which of the following compounds does NOT show optical isomerism?
Lactic acid
Tartaric acid
2-Butanol
Butane
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
Which of the following compounds does NOT show optical isomerism?
Step 1: Understand what optical isomerism is. It occurs when a compound can exist in two different forms that are mirror images of each other, known as enantiomers.
Step 2: Identify what a chiral center is. A chiral center is a carbon atom that is attached to four different groups.
Step 3: Analyze the compound in question, which is butane. Butane is a simple hydrocarbon with the formula C4H10.
Step 4: Check the structure of butane. Butane has a straight-chain structure and does not have any carbon atom attached to four different groups.
Step 5: Conclude that since butane does not have a chiral center, it cannot show optical isomerism.