chirality

American  

[kahy-ral-i-ti] / kaɪˈræl ɪ tɪ /

noun

plural

chiralities

1. Chemistry. the configuration of a structure (especially a molecule) that has a mirror image not identical to itself, the two images being described as right-hand and left-hand forms, which are not superposable; the quality of a figure that is chiral.

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chirality British  

/ kaɪˈrælɪtɪ /

noun

1. Also called: dissymmetry.  the configuration or handedness (left or right) of an asymmetric, optically active chemical compound

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chirality Scientific  

/ kī-răl′ĭ-tē /

1. The characteristic of a structure (usually a molecule) that makes it impossible to superimpose it on its mirror image.

2. Also called handedness

3. See also helicity invariance optical isomer

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Other Word Forms

• achirality
  noun
• chiral
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of chirality

C19: from Greek kheir hand + _-al ¹ + _-ity

Example Sentences

In their study published in Optica, the team demonstrates that this twisted bilayer structure naturally introduces asymmetry between left and right, making it highly effective for controlling light chirality.

From Science Daily • Mar. 21, 2026

As it happens, many aspects of life exhibit chirality, or “handedness.”

From Salon • Jan. 18, 2025

So if you were to engineer synthetic mirror image versions of these, the amino acids would have right-handed chirality and the DNA would have left-handed chirality.

From Salon • Jan. 18, 2025

"The chiral materials we chose are two chiral cobalt oxide thin films, each with a different chirality, or 'handedness,'" Liu says.

From Science Daily • May 3, 2024

The research team demonstrated that the chirality memory can be written and read out at room temperature.

From Science Daily • Mar. 22, 2024