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Glycine as an Achiral Molecule

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I would like a proof for that an achiral molecule that consists of two similar components and two other distinct components are always superposable as for example glycine. I would believe I visual proof would be the most easy approach for me. Thank you! An image of glycine is in the attachment as an illustration.

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Solution Summary

This solution clearly defines what an achiral molecule is, with the help of two examples. And then this solution explains why glycine is achiral, with the help of a model. This solution will be an excellent guide for visualizing and conceptualizing similar problems.

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Visual proof of superposability for a distinct molecule
I would like a proof for that an achiral molecule that consists of two similar components and two other distinct components are always superposable as for example glycine. I would believe a visual proof would be the most easy approach for me. Thank you! An image of glycine is in the attachment as an illustration.
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Answer

You are right! Visualization is the key to these kind of problems. Often time a model in ...

Solution provided by:
Tania Dey, PhD
Education
  • BSc (Hons),
  • MSc,
  • PhD,
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  • "Thankyou for the feedback. I have a few question though; With the first statistic about cost below... “According to Sigma-Aldrich catalog, cost of 1L octane is AUD $ 392.00, whereas the cost of 1L ethanol is AUD $196.00. Moreover, if ethanol is obtained from sugar industry as a by-product, it may cost even less. Source of oxygen is ambient atmosphere, so it costs nothing. So ethanol is much cheaper than petrol, in fact it is half-priced: AUD $ (392-196) = $ 196.” I didn't think it made sense because the cost of petrol per litre is normally a dollar something or even less than a dollar not a couple of hundred of dollars. For example, a statistic that I found in america was: "U.S. ethanol production costs are about $1.20 per gallon of ethanol, or $1.82 per gallon on a gasoline-equivalent basis." However, I was wondering whether you could find an Australian statistic. Also, you mentioned that H20 is not a greenhouse gas. However, in the combustion equations it is actually carbon dioxide and water vapour which are produced and they are both greenhouse gases. Finally, how do I calculate the energy efficiency of ethanol and petrol? "
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