Consider the following statements regarding the stereochemistry of organic compounds: (I) Propan-2-ol is a chiral molecule. (II) Butan-2-ol exists as two non-superimposable mirror images. (III) The S _ N 1 hydrolysis of 2-bromo-2-methylbutane yields an optically active mixture. (IV) 1-chloro-1-fluoroethane is an achiral molecule. How many of the above statements are correct?

Step-by-step solution

Let us evaluate each statement: (I) Incorrect. Propan-2-ol ( CH ₃ CH(OH)CH ₃ ) has two identical methyl groups attached to the central carbon. Therefore, it lacks a chiral center and is achiral. (II) Correct. Butan-2-ol ( CH ₃ CH(OH)CH ₂ CH ₃ ) has four different groups attached to the second carbon atom ( -H , -OH , -CH ₃ , -CH ₂ CH ₃ ). It is a chiral molecule and exists as a pair of enantiomers (non-superimposable mirror images). (III) Incorrect. 2-bromo-2-methylbutane ( CH ₃ C(Br)(CH ₃ )CH ₂ CH ₃ ) has two iden