Which one of the Following Compounds Show Optical Activity

1. 3-methyl-2-pentane
2. 2-methyl-2-pentane
3. 3-methyl-1-pentane
4. 4-methyl-1-pentane

Answer - Option C, 3-methyl-1-pentane

The correct answer is 3-methyl-1-pentane. Here all the attached groups to the central carbon atoms are different. There is no plane of symmetry, i.e. it is called a chiral molecule. In 3-methyl-1-pentane there is only one chiral center.