Optical isomerism: chirality, enantiomers, diastereomers
Isomerism and Stereochemistry · Chemistry
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Is CH₃CH(OH)CH₃ chiral? Is CH₃CH(OH)CH₂CH₃? Step 1: Chirality needs a carbon with FOUR different groups. Step 2: Isopropanol's C2 has: OH, H, CH₃, CH₃ — two identical → achiral. Step 3: Butan-2-ol's C2 has: OH, H, CH₃, CH₂CH₃ — all four different → chiral! Step 4: Butan-2-ol exists as enantiomer pair (R and S); isopropanol has none.