Are compounds that contain asymmetric carbons ALWAYS optically active?
1 Answer
Just to retire this question, the simple answer is no.......
Explanation:
Asymmetric synthesis is a huge subject, and it is made difficult by the fact that we have to represent a 3-dimensional molecule on a 2-dimensional page. Models are USED LESS widely than they should be, even tho they are allowed examination materials.
Now consider lactic acid.....
Now I think you will twig that the dotted carbons are potential chiral carbons in that they are both bound to 4 different substituents. And since there are 2 chiral centres, we might suggest that lactic acid has
The
And so, to answer your question, not all compounds with asymmetric carbons are chiral.