Among the following compounds, the total number of compounds containing at least one chiral carbon atom is: (I) 3-bromo-3-methylpentane (II) 2-hydroxypropanoic acid (III) 1,4-dichlorocyclohexane (IV) 1,3-dichlorocyclopentane (V) 2,3-dimethylbutane (VI) 1-chloro-2-methylbutane

Step-by-step solution

(I) 3-bromo-3-methylpentane: The C3 atom is bonded to a methyl group, a bromine atom, and two identical ethyl groups. It is achiral. (II) 2-hydroxypropanoic acid: The C2 atom is bonded to four different groups: - H , - OH , - CH ₃ , and - COOH . It is chiral. (III) 1,4-dichlorocyclohexane: The paths around the ring from C1 to C4 are identical. It is achiral. (IV) 1,3-dichlorocyclopentane: The C1 atom is bonded to - H , - Cl , and two different paths around the ring ( - CH ₂- CH ( Cl )- and - CH ₂- CH ₂- ). It is ch