Identify the asymmetric carbon in this molecule:

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they all. Our next question asks how many asymmetric carbons are contained in the structure of alpha D. Glucose. So let's recall it, carbon Is likely to form four bonds. And when we're looking for symmetry of this carbon and asymmetric carbon is one in which there's four different things bonded to this carbon. They can be different atoms or different groups of atoms and it's important to think groups of atoms because for instance, if A is methane and B. Is a car box a group, even though this carbon is bonded to two other carbons, these are not identical groups here. Um There is not symmetrical if we cut down in half here. So let's take a look at our structure here and look for the asymmetric carbons. We'll start over here with carbon one and we see it as a hydrogen hydroxide, then a carbon on this side and an oxygen on this side. So that is for different groups or atoms. So that is asymmetric. Now this next one is a little trickier. Here's this carbon here, it's got a hydrogen and hydroxyl on these two bonds on either side. Over here in the ring, we have a carbon with the hydrogen and hydroxyl carbon with hydrogen and hydroxyl. Um but in this case one of them, the hydroxyl group is projecting above the ring and one below those aren't identical groups. So this is also a symmetric. Moving on to the next carbon. Well here, similar situation, oh H and H on there. And then within the ring carbon atoms with an H. And O. H group in this case, both below the ring. However, since again, we're looking for symmetry. We're looking for whether there are two things identical on either side. This isn't identical because in this carbon extends on in this ring over to this further carbon and then appear yet another one. Whereas on the other side that carbon, if you extend out, that looks different on that side of the ring, the two sides of the ring are not symmetrical. So this carbon is also asymmetric. Move on to the next carbon. And again we see although it has a bond to carbon on each side, the side we've got the hydroxide and hydrogen on either side of that carbon and up here at the top we have a hydrogen and then another carbon with an O. H. Bonded to it. So not symmetrical. This carbon is also asymmetric. Finally, we move on to our final carbon in the chain. It has a oxygen on one side, hydrogen. Then going on to this part of the chain with carbon with hydrogen and hydroxide onto the other carbons. And the final bond is to this carbon group up here. So again, all four things different. Another asymmetric carbon finally we move up to the last carbon projecting up here. However, this carbon has two hydrogen is bonded to it. So we've got two identical atoms on two of the bonds. So this carbon is not asymmetrical. So let's count up our asymmetric carbons. We have 12345. So head down to our answer choices and we c. Choice D is five. So our answer is five asymmetric carbons in the spring structure. See you in the next video.

Identify the asymmetric carbon in this molecule:

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Key Concepts

Asymmetric Carbon

Stereoisomers

Chirality in Biology