Chirality of Substituted Methanes

atom 1

■

atom 2

■

atom 3

■

atom 4

■

molecule 1

molecule 2

You can replace any of the H atoms in the tetrahedral methane molecule CH

4

by other atoms, such as F, Cl or Br. When the central C is surrounded by one, two, or three different kinds of atoms, the molecule could still be superimposed on its mirror image by some manipulation of its orientation, as can be shown by using the 2D sliders. But with four different substituents bonded to the central C atom, there are distinct left- and right-handed enantiomers that possess no plane of symmetry. Such a molecule is chiral and cannot be superimposed on its mirror image. Such compounds can exhibit optical activity.