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: Recall the definition of chiral carbon

A chiral carbon (asymmetric carbon) is a carbon atom that is bonded to four different groups.

Step2: Analyze each carbon in the compound

• The first carbon (\(-CH_2OH\)): bonded to two \(H\) atoms (from \(-CH_2-\)), so not chiral.
• The second carbon (\(-CH(OH)-\)): bonded to \(-CH_2OH\), \(-OH\), \(-CH(OH)-\) (next carbon in chain), and \(H\). Four different groups, so chiral.
• The third carbon (\(-CH(OH)-\)): bonded to \(-CH(OH)-\) (previous carbon), \(-OH\), \(-CO-\), and \(H\). Four different groups, so chiral.
• The fourth carbon (\(-CO-\)): double - bonded (only three 'groups' in terms of chirality consideration as double - bond counts as one 'group' in this context), so not chiral.

Answer:

2