Explain Optical Isomerism in Butan-2-ol
In butan-2-ol, the second carbon atom has a hydroxy group, an ethyl group, a methyl group, and a hydrogen attached, making it an asymmetric carbon atom. This results in the molecule having two optical isomers, also known as enantiomers. To identify the optical isomers of butan-2-ol, consider the following skeletal formula:
In this formula, the second carbon atom (the one with the -OH attached) has four different groups around it, making it a chiral centre
Optical Isomerism
Optical Isomerism is a property of Organic Compounds in which they have the same molecular and structural formula but they can’t superimpose on each other. This is due to the different arrangement of carbon atoms in three-dimensional space. The structures exhibiting Optical isomerism are called Optical Isomers. Optical Isomerism is one of the most important concepts in Organic Chemistry and helps to understand various difficult reactions.
In this article, we will learn what is optical isomerism, its significance, types, examples and many more things.
Table of Content
- What is Optical Isomerism?
- Optical Isomer Definition
- Chiral and Achiral Molecules
- What are Enantiomers?
- Type of Optical Isomers
- Structural Isomers vs Optical Isomers