See image — Isomerism and Stereochemistry Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

# Identifying Chiral Carbon Atoms **Step 1: Understand chiral carbon definition** A chiral carbon is a tetrahedral carbon bonded to four *different* groups. **Step 2: Analyze each carbon in the chain** $$\text{CH}_3 - \underbrace{\text{CH}}_{\text{C1}} - \underbrace{\text{CH}}_{\text{C2}} - \underbrace{\text{CH}}_{\text{C3}} - \text{CH}_3$$ $$\quad\quad\quad\quad|\quad\quad\quad\quad|\quad\quad\quad\quad|$$ $$\quad\quad\quad\quad\text{Cl}\quad\quad\text{C}_2\text{H}_5\quad\text{CH}_3$$ **C1 (second carbon from left):** - Bonded to: $\text{CH}_3$, $\text{CH}$ (with $\text{C}_2\text{H}_5$), $\text{Cl}$, $\text{H}$ - All four groups are *different* → **Chiral** ✓ **C2 (third carbon):** - Bonded to: $\text{CH}$ (with Cl), $\text{CH}$ (with $\text{CH}_3$), $\text{C}_2\text{H}_5$, $\text{H}$ - All four groups are *different* → **Chiral** ✓ **C3 (fourth carbon):** - Bonded to: $\text{CH}_3$, $\text{CH}_3$, $\text{CH}$, $\text{H}$ - Two $\text{CH}_3$ groups are identical → **Not chiral** ✗ **Answer: (2) 2** chiral carbons (C1 and C2)