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The simplest alcohol that can exhibit en...

The simplest alcohol that can exhibit enantiomerism:

A

1-propanol

B

2-butanol

C

2-propanol

D

1-butanol

Text Solution

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The correct Answer is:
To determine the simplest alcohol that can exhibit enantiomerism, we need to identify the alcohol that contains a chiral carbon atom. A chiral carbon is a carbon atom that is bonded to four different groups, leading to non-superimposable mirror images. ### Step-by-Step Solution: 1. **Understanding Chiral Centers**: - A chiral center (or chiral carbon) is a carbon atom that is attached to four different substituents. This configuration allows for the existence of two enantiomers (non-superimposable mirror images). 2. **Analyzing Different Alcohols**: - We will evaluate several simple alcohols to find one that has a chiral carbon. 3. **1-Propanol**: - Structure: CH3-CH2-CH2OH - Analysis: The carbon atoms in 1-propanol do not have four different substituents. Therefore, it does not have a chiral center and cannot exhibit enantiomerism. 4. **2-Butanol**: - Structure: CH3-CH(OH)-CH2-CH3 - Analysis: The second carbon (C2) has four different groups attached: a hydroxyl group (OH), a methyl group (CH3), a hydrogen (H), and an ethyl group (CH2-CH3). This carbon is a chiral center, allowing for the existence of enantiomers. Thus, 2-butanol can exhibit enantiomerism. 5. **2-Propanol**: - Structure: CH3-CHOH-CH3 - Analysis: The carbon with the hydroxyl group (C2) is attached to two identical methyl groups (CH3). Therefore, it does not have a chiral center and cannot exhibit enantiomerism. 6. **1-Butanol**: - Structure: CH3-CH2-CH2-CH2OH - Analysis: Similar to 1-propanol, 1-butanol does not have a chiral center as there are no four different substituents on any carbon atom. 7. **Conclusion**: - The only alcohol among the ones analyzed that can exhibit enantiomerism is **2-butanol** because it contains a chiral carbon atom. ### Final Answer: The simplest alcohol that can exhibit enantiomerism is **2-butanol**.

To determine the simplest alcohol that can exhibit enantiomerism, we need to identify the alcohol that contains a chiral carbon atom. A chiral carbon is a carbon atom that is bonded to four different groups, leading to non-superimposable mirror images. ### Step-by-Step Solution: 1. **Understanding Chiral Centers**: - A chiral center (or chiral carbon) is a carbon atom that is attached to four different substituents. This configuration allows for the existence of two enantiomers (non-superimposable mirror images). 2. **Analyzing Different Alcohols**: ...
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