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

• chiral
  adjective
• achirality
  noun

Inflected Forms

noun

• chiralities
  plural

Etymology

Origin of chirality

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

Example Sentences

Human hands are a simple example of chirality.

From Science Daily • Apr. 19, 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

In molecules, chirality can make biological or chemical units exist in two versions that cannot be perfectly matched, as in a left and right mitten.

From Science Daily • May 7, 2024

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

From Science Daily • Mar. 22, 2024