Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

chiral

Adjective

/ˈkaɪrəl/

Definition

Chiral refers to a property of certain molecules that are not superimposable on their mirror images.

Examples

The term chiral is commonly used in chemistry to describe asymmetric carbon atoms.
When discussing drug molecules, chirality plays a crucial role in their effectiveness and how they interact with biological systems.
In the field of materials science, chiral structures can influence the properties of new materials.

Meaning

A chiral object or molecule has a distinct handedness; it exists in two forms that are mirror images of each other but cannot be aligned perfectly, similar to left and right hands.