Question

Which isomer(s) of xylene will exhibit 3 peaks in the \( ^{13}C \) NMR spectrum?

• A. \( \text{o-xylene} \)
• B. \( \text{m-xylene} \)
• C. \( \text{p-xylene} \)
• D. \( \text{All of the above} \)

Hint:

Symmetry in molecular structure reduces the number of unique chemical shifts observed in NMR spectra.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

\( p \)-Xylene exhibits three unique \( ^{13}C \) NMR peaks due to its symmetrical molecular structure. Carbon atoms in equivalent positions result in fewer distinct chemical environments in the spectrum. \( o \)-Xylene and \( m \)-Xylene have more asymmetric distributions, leading to a greater number of peaks.