How many representations of lactic acid are possible in Fischer projection (d &l)?

Options

A. 8
B. 12
C. 24
D. 36

Answer

C

Explanation

There are 24(= 41 this being the number of permutations of 4 ligands among 4 sites) ways of writing the projection formula , 12 correspond to one enantiomer and 12 to the other. Twelve of these, corresponding to the (+) enantiomer, are depicted in Fig. , the 12 mirror images of those shown would represent the (-) isomer.


Twelve representations of (+)-lactic acid (Fischer projections)