A chiral molecule has (a) no plane of symmetry (b) one plane of symmetry (c) infinite planes of symmetry (d) none of these

Short Answer

Expert verified
The correct answer is (a) no plane of symmetry.

Step by step solution

01

Definition of Chirality

Chirality is a property of a molecule that occurs when it cannot be superimposed onto its mirror image. The presence or absence of a plane of symmetry can be used to determine whether a molecule is chiral or not.
02

Plane of Symmetry in Chiral Molecules

A plane of symmetry in a molecule, also called a mirror plane, is a hypothetical plane that cuts the molecule into two halves - each being a mirror image of the other. Chiral molecules do not possess a plane of symmetry as they cannot be split into two mirror-image halves.
03

Selecting the Correct Option

Given the earlier definitions and explanations, we know that a chiral molecule will have no plane of symmetry. Therefore, the correct choice from the given options is (a) no plane of symmetry.

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