An unknown substance (P) shows optical activity. This optical activity disappears on treatment of (P) with acidified `KMnO_(4)` (which produces Q), or with heated copper (which produces R). (P) Produces silver mirror with Tollen's reagent, thereby producing (S). (S) is chiral. Based on this information, answer the following questions :
(P) may be-

Options

A.
B.
C.
D.

Explanation

To solve the problem step by step, we need to analyze the information provided about the unknown substance (P) and the reactions it undergoes.

### Step 1: Identify the characteristics of substance P
- **Optical Activity**: Substance P shows optical activity, indicating it is likely a chiral compound.
- **Reactions with Acidified KMnO4 and Copper**: The optical activity disappears when P is treated with acidified KMnO4 or heated with copper, suggesting that these reactions convert P into achiral products (Q and R).
- **Reaction with Tollen's Reagent**: P produces a silver mirror with Tollen's reagent, indicating that P is likely an aldehyde or a reducing sugar.

### Step 2: Determine the structure of P
Given that P is optically active and reacts with Tollen's reagent, it is likely an aldehyde with a chiral center. A suitable candidate for P could be a compound like 2-butanol or a similar structure with a chiral center.

### Step 3: Reaction with Acidified KMnO4
When P is treated with acidified KMnO4, it undergoes oxidation. The expected product (Q) would be a carboxylic acid or a ketone, depending on the structure of P. If we assume P is a chiral aldehyde, it could be oxidized to a carboxylic acid.

### Step 4: Reaction with Heated Copper
Heating with copper typically leads to the oxidation of aldehydes to carboxylic acids. Therefore, R would also be a carboxylic acid if P is an aldehyde.

### Step 5: Reaction with Tollen's Reagent
Since P produces a silver mirror with Tollen's reagent, it confirms that P is indeed an aldehyde. The reaction with Tollen's reagent would yield a chiral alcohol (S) upon reduction.

### Step 6: Identify the chirality of S
The product S is chiral, which aligns with the information given. This suggests that the structure of S must have a chiral center.

### Conclusion
Based on the analysis, substance P could be a chiral aldehyde such as 2-butanol or a similar compound. The reactions lead to the formation of achiral products Q and R, and a chiral product S.

The final answer is that (P) may be **2-butanol** or a similar chiral aldehyde.