chirality

chirality
The property of nonidentity of an object with its mirror image; used in chemistry with respect to stereochemical isomers. [G. cheir, hand]

* * *

chi·ral·i·ty (ki-ralґĭ-te) [Gr. cheir hand] the property of handedness, of not being superimposable on a mirror image; the handedness of an asymmetric molecule, as specified by its optical rotation or absolute configuration. Cf. stereoisomerism.

Lactic acid, its tetracoordinate carbon atom bearing four different substituents, is not superimposable on its mirror image. Ethylene glycol, with two identical substituents on its tetracoordinate carbon, can be superimposed on its mirror image.


Medical dictionary. 2011.

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Chirality — キラリティー Type Seinen Genre romance, science fiction, yuri Manga Auteur Satoshi Urushihara Éditeur …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Chirality — For other uses, see Chirality (disambiguation). Two enantiomers of a generic amino acid Chirality, pronounced //kaɪˈrælɪtiː// is a property of asymmetry important in several branches of science. The word chirality is derived from the …   Wikipedia

  • chirality — chirališkumas statusas T sritis chemija apibrėžtis Objekto nesutapatinamumas su jo veidrodiniu atspindžiu. atitikmenys: angl. chirality; handedness rus. асимметричность; хиральность …   Chemijos terminų aiškinamasis žodynas

  • chirality — noun see chiral * * * chirality /kī ralˈi ti/ noun 1. The property of a chemical, esp a crystal, of existing in left handed and right handed structural forms 2. The handedness of such a chemical ORIGIN: Gr cheir hand • • • chīˈral adjective …   Useful english dictionary

  • Chirality (manga) — Chirality Cover of the first volume of the Japanese re release キラリティー (Kirariteī) Genre Romance, Science Fiction, Y …   Wikipedia

  • Chirality (electromagnetism) — Chirality with hands and two enantiomers of a generic amino acid. The term chiral (pronounced /ˈkaɪrəl/) describes an object, especially a molecule, which has or produces a non superimposeable mirror image of itself. In chemistry, such a …   Wikipedia

  • Chirality (disambiguation) — Chirality (handedness) is a property of asymmetry important in several branches of science. It may refer to: Chirality (chemistry), a property of molecules having a non superimposable mirror image Chirality (electromagnetism), an electromagnetic… …   Wikipedia

  • Chirality (journal) — Chirality   Titre abrégé Chirality Discipline Chimie Langue …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Chirality (journal) — Chirality   Discipline Chiral chemistry Language English …   Wikipedia

  • Chirality (chemistry) — L form redirects here. For the bacterial strains, see L form bacteria. Two enantiomers of a generic amino acid …   Wikipedia

  • Chirality (physics) — A chiral phenomenon is one that is not identical to its mirror image (see Chirality). The spin of a particle may be used to define a handedness (aka chirality) for that particle. A symmetry transformation between the two is called parity.… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”