CHIRAL MOLECULE Meaning and
Definition
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A chiral molecule is a type of molecule that possesses a property called chirality. Chirality refers to the property of an object that is not superimposable on its mirror image. In the context of chemistry, this means that a chiral molecule cannot be aligned in such a way that its mirror image perfectly overlaps with it.
Chiral molecules contain at least one atom that is attached to four different groups or atoms. This asymmetric arrangement causes the molecule to have a nonsuperimposable mirror image, known as an enantiomer. Enantiomers have the same chemical formula and connectivity of atoms, but differ in their spatial arrangement.
The presence of chirality in a molecule has significant implications for its behavior and interactions with other molecules. Chiral molecules exhibit different chemical and physical properties from their enantiomers. This is particularly relevant in the field of drug design, as the different enantiomers of a molecule can have varying effects on the human body. For example, one enantiomer may be therapeutically active, while the other might be inert or even produce adverse effects.
Chiral molecules are often denoted by the symbols R and S or (+) and (-) to distinguish between their enantiomers. The study of chirality and its impact on molecular behavior is a fundamental aspect of organic chemistry and has important implications in various scientific disciplines.
Common Misspellings for CHIRAL MOLECULE
- xhiral molecule
- vhiral molecule
- fhiral molecule
- dhiral molecule
- cgiral molecule
- cbiral molecule
- cniral molecule
- cjiral molecule
- cuiral molecule
- cyiral molecule
- chural molecule
- chjral molecule
- chkral molecule
- choral molecule
- ch9ral molecule
- ch8ral molecule
- chieal molecule
- chidal molecule
- chifal molecule
- chital molecule
Etymology of CHIRAL MOLECULE
The term "chiral" comes from the Greek word "kheir" which means "hand". This is because chiral molecules, or more generally chiral objects, have mirror-image forms that cannot be superimposed on each other, much like our hands. A chiral molecule is a molecule that cannot be superimposed onto its mirror image, just like a left hand cannot be perfectly superimposed on a right hand. The term was coined by the French scientist Louis Pasteur in 1848 when he discovered that certain tartaric acid crystals existed in two non-superimposable forms, which he called "right-handed" and "left-handed" crystals. Hence, the term "chiral" was introduced to describe this fundamental property of asymmetry in molecular structure.
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