Question

question
how many chiral carbons are there in the compound shown below?
ho - ch₂ - ch - ch - c - h

oh oh o
provide your answer below:
carbons

Explanation:

Step1: Identify chiral carbon definition

A chiral carbon is a carbon atom bonded to four different groups.

Step2: Analyze each carbon in the compound

• The first carbon (\(CH_2\)) has two \(H\) atoms (same groups), not chiral.
• The second carbon (\(CH\) with \(OH\)): bonded to \(HO - CH_2-\), \( - OH\), \( - CH(OH)-\), and \(H\) (four different groups), chiral.
• The third carbon (\(CH\) with \(OH\)): bonded to \( - CH_2OH\), \( - OH\), \( - C(=O)H\), and the adjacent \(CH\) (four different groups), chiral.
• The fourth carbon (\(C = O\)): double - bonded (only three groups attached), not chiral.

Answer:

2