chirality

American  

[kahy-ral-i-ti] / kaɪˈræl ɪ tɪ /

noun

• chiralities
  plural

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

Derived Forms

• achirality
  noun
• chiral
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• chiralities
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of chirality

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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

chirality

By solving the mystery of chirality, Henri Kagan and Kenso Soai worked out how to design chemical reactions to produce much more of the desired version of a molecule.

From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026

In organic chemistry, this property is known as "chirality", so chiral molecules have both right and left-handed forms.

From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026

"These results open a new direction of research on the fusion of quasiperiodic order and chirality," remarks Moritake.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 15, 2026

They are especially useful for studying chirality, a property sometimes described as structural handedness.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 20, 2026

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

From Salon ● Jan. 18, 2025

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