Question

$ \alpha $ -hydroxy propanoic acid has ........ asymmetric carbon atoms.

• A. $ 4 $
• B. $ 3 $
• C. $ 2 $
• D. $ 1 $

Answer 1

Answer: (D)

Asymmetric carbon atom is the carbon, four valencies of which are satisfied by four different groups. The structure of $\alpha$ -hydroxy propanoic acid is

$CH_{3} — \overset{\underset{|}{O}{H}}{C \underset{*}{H}}—COOH$

$(C^{*}$ = asymmetric carbon atom)

Thus, $\alpha$ -hydroxy propanoic acid has one asymmetric carbon atom.