Question

2 bromobutane is optically active but 1 bromobutane is optically inactive. Why ?

Answer 1

in 1 bromobutane there is no chiral compound but in 2 bromobutane there is a chiral compound that's why 2 bromobutane is optically active

Answer 2

Hello Firoz,


● Explanation -
- In 2-bromopropane, 4 different types of functional groups are attached to alpha-C atom.
- Therefore, this C-atom acts as chiral cetre and thus 2-bromopropane is optically active compound.
- In 1-bromopropane, same 2 H-atoms are attached to alpha-C atom.
- Therefore, this C-atom cant act as chiral cetre and thus 1-bromopropane is optically inactive compound.


Hope this helped you...