An asymmetric carbon atom (chiral center) is a carbon atom that is bonded to four different groups. Let’s examine the structure of testosterone: Looking at the structure, we can identify the carbon atoms that have four different groups attached. These are chiral centers. 1. The carbon atom at the junction of the six-membered ring with the ketone group (C=O) and the five-membered ring. 2. The carbon atom in the five-membered ring attached to the methyl group (CH3) and the hydroxyl group (OH). 3. The carbon atom at the top of the other six-membered ring that forms a bridge. 4. The carbon atom at the bottom of the other six-membered ring that forms a bridge. 5. The carbon atom at the top of the six-membered ring with the double bond. 6. The carbon atom at the bottom of the six-membered ring with the double bond. Therefore, there are a total of six asymmetric carbon atoms in testosterone.
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Top Questions on Tetravalence Of Carbon: Shapes Of Organic Compounds
The valency of carbon is - 4 (Four). Tetravalency of Carbon is the ability of carbon to bond with the other 4 atoms of carbon or atoms of other monovalent elements. The term 'Tetra' means ‘Four’ and the term ‘Valency’ means ‘Combining capacity’. When carbon is said to be Tetravalent, it means that the valency of carbon is 4 and it can form 4 covalent bonds with other atoms. Catenation is the ability of carbon to form bonds of covalent nature with other carbon atoms.
Electronic Configuration and Valency of Carbon:
The valency of carbon can be described by understanding the Electronic Configuration of Carbon. There are two types of the electronic configurations of carbon:
Carbon at ground state: A ground-state atom is an atom in which the total energy of electrons cannot be let down by transferring one or more electrons to different orbitals. In the ground state carbon, all electrons are in the lowest possible energy levels. Although carbon has 4 electrons, it can make only 2 bonds because it has only 2 unpaired electrons in ground state carbon.
Carbon at excited state: A carbon is said to be in an animated state when the total energy of electrons can be taken down by transferring an electron from the 2P orbital to the 2S orbital. In the animated state of carbon, there are 4 unpaired electrons so it can make bonds with 4 other atoms.
