Question

Which one of the following compounds is the simplest alkane that is optically active? 

 

• A. (A)
• B. (B)
• C. (C)
• D. (D)

Hint:

Optical activity is exhibited by compounds with a chiral center, which are not superimposable on their mirror images.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

The question asks for the simplest alkane that is optically active. An alkane is considered optically active if it has at least one chiral center. A chiral center is a carbon atom bonded to four different substituents.

Let's examine each option to identify which one is optically active:

1. Option (A): This compound shows a carbon atom bonded to four different groups, making it a chiral center. Therefore, this is a chiral molecule, and option (A) is optically active.
2. Option (B): The compound does not have a carbon atom bonded to four different substituents, and thus, it is not optically active.
3. Option (C): Similar to option (B), this structure lacks a chiral center.
4. Option (D): Again, like options (B) and (C), this structure also lacks a chiral center.

Therefore, the simplest alkane that is optically active is the one in option (A), which contains a chiral center.

Conclusion: The correct answer is option (A). It is the simplest alkane that is optically active due to the presence of a chiral center.