Ribose has five carbon atoms, of which three are asymmetric. What is the maximum number of stereoisomers that may exist for ribose?

Name: Ribose has five carbon atoms, of which three are asymmetric. What is the maximum number of stereoisomers that may exist for ribose?
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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The maximum number of stereoisomers for a molecule is given by 2^n, where n is the number of asymmetric carbon atoms. Ribose has 3 asymmetric carbons, so 2^3 = 8 stereoisomers.

Ribose Has Five Carbon Atoms, of Which Three Are Asymmetric