Question

How many chiral carbon atoms are present in $2,3,4$-trichloropentane?

• A. $3$
• B. $2$
• C. $1$
• D. $4$

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

$2$

Above is the structure of $2,3,4-trichloropentane$. Numbering can be done from any side because it does not make any difference.

Chiral carbon is a carbon atom that is attached to four different types of atoms or groups of atoms. Hence, C-1 and C-5 can't be chiral as they are connected to 3 hydrogen atoms.

C-3 is attached to two same groups on both sides, so it is also not a chiral carbon.

C-2 and C-4 are connected to 4 different groups,hence both are chiral carbon.

Hence, the answer is option $B$.