We can see that the "mirror image" methane molecule can be superimposed on the "real" methane molecule by simply rotating the molecule about the vertical axis. Methane, CH4, is NOT an example of a chiral molecule. ... The "mirror image" chloromethane molecule is superimposable on the "real" chloromethane molecule.
Is methane an enantiomer?
Illustrated Glossary of Organic Chemistry - Enantiomer (optical isomer) Enantiomer (optical isomer): One of a pair of molecules that are nonsuperposable mirror images. Use your molecular model kit to verify that (R)-bromochlorofluoroiodomethane and (S)-bromochlorofluoroiodomethane are enantiomers.
How do you know if a compound is Superimposable?
The most straightforward way to determine whether a given object is chiral is to draw or visualize the object's mirror image and see if the two are identical (that is, superimposable). If the object contains an internal plane of symmetry then it must be achiral.
