Butan-2-ol is a chiral molecule because it has four different groups attached to the tetrahedral carbon, resulting in non-superimposability on its mirror image.
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Butan-2-ol (2-butanol) is a chiral molecule due to its asymmetric carbon, specifically the carbon atom bonded to the hydroxyl (-OH) group. This carbon is attached to four different substituents: a hydrogen atom, a methyl group (CH3), another carbon atom, and the hydroxyl group. The spatial arrangement of these substituents creates non-superimposable mirror images, known as enantiomers. As a result, butan-2-ol exists in two distinct mirror-image forms. This chiral nature is essential in understanding its unique chemical and biological properties, as enantiomers may exhibit different activities in various applications, including pharmaceuticals and synthesis.