JEE Challenger
More from Haloalkanes and Haloarenes
ChemEasyAdv 2007 • Paper 2

Chirality Criteria and Molecular Symmetry

This question contains Statement-1 and Statement-2. Of the four choices given after the statements, choose the one that best describes the two statements.

STATEMENT-1 :\textbf{STATEMENT-1 :} Molecules that are not superimposable on their mirror images are chiral.

because\textbf{because}

STATEMENT-2 :\textbf{STATEMENT-2 :} All chiral molecules have chiral centres.

Options

A

Statement-1 is True, Statement-2 is True; Statement-2 is a correct explanation for Statement-1

B

Statement-1 is True, Statement-2 is True; Statement-2 is NOT a correct explanation for Statement-1

C

Statement-1 is True, Statement-2 is False

Correct
D

Statement-1 is False, Statement-2 is True

Topics & Concepts

Haloalkanes and HaloarenesOptical IsomerismChiralityStereochemistry

Step-by-Step Solution

  1. Statement-1 is True: The fundamental definition of chirality is the non-superimposability of an object or molecule on its mirror image.

  2. Statement-2 is False: The presence of a chiral center (asymmetric carbon) is neither a necessary nor a sufficient condition for molecular chirality. Molecules possessing an axis of chirality (e.g., properly substituted allenes, alkylidene cyclohexanes, and ortho-tetrasubstituted biphenyls displaying atropisomerism) lack chiral centers but are non-superimposable on their mirror images and thus chiral.

Hence, Statement-1 is True and Statement-2 is False.

Correct Answer: C

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