Out of the following compounds, the chiral molecules are

(A) Butan-2-ol
(B) Propane-2-ol
(C) 2-Chlorobutane
(D) 2-Bromopropanoic acid

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

(A), (C) and (D) only

The correct answer is Option (4) → (A), (C) and (D) only

A molecule is chiral if it has a carbon attached to four different groups (chiral center).

• (A) Butan-2-ol: The second carbon ($C_2$) is bonded to: a hydrogen ($-H$), a hydroxyl group ($-OH$), a methyl group ($-CH_3$), and an ethyl group ($-CH_2CH_3$). Since all four groups are different, it is chiral.
• (B) Propan-2-ol: The second carbon ($C_2$) is bonded to: a hydrogen ($-H$), a hydroxyl group ($-OH$), and two identical methyl groups ($-CH_3$). Because it has two identical groups, it is achiral (not chiral).
• (C) 2-Chlorobutane: The second carbon ($C_2$) is bonded to: a hydrogen ($-H$), a chlorine atom ($-Cl$), a methyl group ($-CH_3$), and an ethyl group ($-C_2H_5$). All four groups are different, making it chiral.
• (D) 2-Bromopropanoic acid: The second carbon ($C_2$) is bonded to: a hydrogen ($-H$), a bromine atom ($-Br$), a methyl group ($-CH_3$), and a carboxyl group ($-COOH$). All four groups are different, so it is chiral.