[idllotsaroms]

Hello, I was wondering if its possible to cut a molecule down its carbon backbone to produce a mirror image of itself to determine if it forms a racemate or not.

So would it be possible to say there is a mirror plane in this molecule:
 
that splits all those carbons and between the double bond? And therefore call the molecule achrial?

--Is it possible to say that the mirror plane is in the plane of the molecule and splits the molecule in half

Mod edit: img tags added. Dan

[discodermolide]

Think about the critera required for chirality, is that molecule chiral?

[idllotsaroms]

No that molecule is not chiral (not 4 different groups). Sorry, I guess a better question would have been, why is the molecule racemic after bromide addition with water?

[discodermolide]

Because the carbonium ion can be quenched from either side, leading to a racemic product.