Question

Determine whether methylcyclohexane contains a chiral center. _____ How many different substituents do you count at atom

Answer 1

Answer:

methylcyclohexane does not possess a chiral center

Explanation:

A molecule is said to possess a chiral center if one or more of the atoms in the molecule is bonded to four different atoms or groups.

If we look at methylcyclohexane, none of the carbon atoms in the molecule is bonded to four different atoms or groups hence the molecule contains no chiral centers and will not exhibit optical isomerism.

So, methylcyclohexane has a plane of symmetry thus it is an achiral molecule.