Chiral
Chiral
Chiral (pronounced: /ˈkaɪrəl/) is a term used in Chemistry and Physics to describe an object or a system that does not overlap with its mirror image. The term originates from the Greek word "χείρ" (cheir), meaning "hand," which is an example of a chiral object.
Etymology
The term "chiral" was first used by Lord Kelvin in 1893. He derived it from the Greek word "χείρ" (cheir), which means "hand." This is because our hands are the most familiar example of chirality: the left hand is a non-superimposable mirror image of the right hand.
Related Terms
- Chirality (chemistry): This term refers to the geometric property of a rigid object (or spatial arrangement of points or atoms) of being non-superposable on its mirror image.
- Stereochemistry: This is the study of the spatial arrangements of atoms in molecules and their effects on the chemical and physical properties of substances.
- Enantiomer: These are pairs of molecules that are mirror images of each other, much like left and right hands. They are a type of stereoisomer.
- Optical activity: This is a measure of how much a substance can rotate the plane of polarized light. Chiral substances often show optical activity.
- Chiral resolution: This is the process of separating enantiomers, which is important in pharmaceuticals because different enantiomers can have different effects in the body.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Chiral
- Wikipedia's article - Chiral
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