Exploring Mirror Image Structures

In the previous section we looked at strategies for creating a molecules mirror image.  In this activity you will generate mirror images and explore some of their properties.

Action
  1. The Jsmol applet on the left is set to allow editing.  Right click in the left applet and then select the Cl atom and then click on one of the H atoms to replace it with a Cl.  Replace another H atom with a O and a third H atom with a Br atoms to create a chiral molecule.
  2. The Jamol applet on the right is the mirror image of the structure you just made.  What do you notice about the chirality of these two molecules?