Which of the following compounds can exhibit both geometric and optical isomeris
Practice Questions
Q1
Which of the following compounds can exhibit both geometric and optical isomerism?
2-butene
3-pentanol
2-pentene
1,2-dichloropropane
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
Which of the following compounds can exhibit both geometric and optical isomerism?
Step 1: Understand what geometric isomerism is. It occurs in compounds with a double bond where the arrangement of groups can differ (like cis and trans).
Step 2: Understand what optical isomerism is. It occurs in compounds that have a chiral center, meaning they can exist in two forms that are mirror images of each other.
Step 3: Identify the compound in the question, which is 3-pentanol.
Step 4: Check if 3-pentanol has a double bond. It does not, but it has a chiral center at the third carbon.
Step 5: Realize that 3-pentanol can exhibit optical isomerism because of its chiral center.
Step 6: Check for geometric isomerism. Since 3-pentanol does not have a double bond, it cannot exhibit geometric isomerism.
Step 7: Conclude that 3-pentanol can exhibit optical isomerism but not geometric isomerism.