Which of these molecules is chiral?
A)I only
B)III only
C)I and III
D)III and IV
E)II and IV

Question

Which of these molecules is chiral? 
A)I only 
B)III only 
C)I and III 
D)III and IV 
E)II and IV

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A molecule is chiral if it is non-superimposable on its mirror image. 
I) CHBrClF has a tetrahedral geometry and a chiral center at the carbon atom, so it is chiral. 
II) CHFClBr has a tetrahedral geometry and also contains a chiral center at the carbon atom, but it is not chiral since it contains an internal mirror plane (a plane of symmetry). 
III) CHClBrF and IV) CFBrClI both have a square planar geometry and do not contain any chiral centers, so they are not chiral. Thus, the correct answer is choice C, I and III.

Which of These Molecules Is Chiral