Which of the following compounds does NOT exhibit optical isomerism?
Practice Questions
1 question
Q1
Which of the following compounds does NOT exhibit optical isomerism?
Lactic acid
Tartaric acid
2-butanol
Butane
Butane does not have a chiral center and therefore does not exhibit optical isomerism.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
1 item
Q
Q: Which of the following compounds does NOT exhibit optical isomerism?
Solution: Butane does not have a chiral center and therefore does not exhibit optical isomerism.
Steps: 5
Step 1: Understand what optical isomerism is. It occurs when a compound can exist in two 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: Look at the compound 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 atoms that are attached to four different groups.
Step 5: Conclude that since butane does not have a chiral center, it cannot exhibit optical isomerism.
