Question

How many numbers of possible stereoisomers are there of 2, 3, 4 trichloro pentanoic acid?

• A. 8
• B. 12
• C. 16
• D. 4

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

The structural formula of 2, 3, 4-trichloro pentanoic acid is given below. $\underset{C{H}_3}{\stackrel{O}{\underset{|}{\stackrel{||}{\underset{H-C^{\ast }-Cl}{\underset{|}{\underset{H-C^{\ast }-Cl}{\underset{|}{\underset{H-C{}^{\ast }-Cl}{\underset{|}{C}}}}}}}}}}-OH$ Number of optical active isomers $=2^n$ where, n = number of asymmetric carbon atom. 2, 3, 4-trichloropentanoic acid has three asymmetric carbon atoms. So, number of optical active isomers $=2^3$ $\therefore$ Number of optical active isomers = 8