Looking Glass Chemistry—Chiral and Achiral Molecules

3 Looking Glass Chemistry—Chiral and Achiral Molecules 

Everything has a mirror image. What s important in chemistry is whether a molecule is identical to or different from its mirror image. 

Some molecules are like hands. Left and right hands are mirror images of each other, but they are not identical. If you try to mentally place one hand inside the other hand, you can never superimpose either all the fingers, or the tops and palms. To superimpose an object on its mirror image means to align all parts of the object with its mirror image. With molecules, this means aligning all atoms and all bonds. 

Other molecules are like socks. Two socks from a pair are mirror images that are superimposable. One sock can fit inside another, aligning toes and heels, and tops and bottoms. A sock and its mirror image are identical. 

Let s determine whether three molecules—H2O, CH2BrCl, and CHBrClF—are superimposable on their mirror images that is, are H2O, CH2BrCl, and CHBrClF chiral or achiral  

Problem 5.2 Classify each pair of compounds as constitutional isomers or stereoisomers. 

The dominance of right-handedness over ieft-handedness occurs in aii races and cuitures. Despite this fact, even identical twins can exhibit differences in hand preference. Pictured are Matthew (right-handed) and Zachary (left-handed), identical twin sons of the author. 

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Looking glass chemistry— Chiral and achiral molecules... 

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