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NEET CHEMISTRYMedium

A compound possessing optical isomerism provided it has the molecular formula C7H16\text{C}_7\text{H}_{16}, would be:

A

2,3-Dimethyl pentane

B

2,2-Dimethyl butane

C

2-Methyl hexane

D

None of the above

Step-by-Step Solution

For an organic molecule to exhibit optical isomerism, it generally must possess at least one asymmetric (chiral) carbon atom, which is a carbon atom bonded to four different atoms or groups .

Let us analyze the given options:

  1. 2,3-Dimethylpentane (CH3-CH(CH3)-CH(CH3)-CH2-CH3\text{CH}_3\text{-CH}(\text{CH}_3)\text{-C}^*\text{H}(\text{CH}_3)\text{-CH}_2\text{-CH}_3): The carbon atom at position 3 (C3) is bonded to four different groups: a hydrogen atom (H-\text{H}), a methyl group (CH3-\text{CH}_3), an ethyl group (CH2CH3-\text{CH}_2\text{CH}_3), and an isopropyl group (CH(CH3)2-\text{CH}(\text{CH}_3)_2). Therefore, it is a chiral center, making the molecule optically active. Its molecular formula is C7H16\text{C}_7\text{H}_{16}.
  2. 2,2-Dimethylbutane (CH3-C(CH3)2-CH2-CH3\text{CH}_3\text{-C}(\text{CH}_3)_2\text{-CH}_2\text{-CH}_3): This molecule has the formula C6H14\text{C}_6\text{H}_{14} (which does not match the given formula) and lacks a chiral center because C2 is attached to three identical methyl groups.
  3. 2-Methylhexane (CH3-CH(CH3)-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH3\text{CH}_3\text{-CH}(\text{CH}_3)\text{-CH}_2\text{-CH}_2\text{-CH}_2\text{-CH}_3): The carbon at position 2 is bonded to two identical methyl groups, so it does not have a chiral center and is achiral.
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