Chirality Definition, Types, Examples & Uses

Chirality

Subject: Chemistry

Book: General Chemistry

Chirality describes molecules that lack an internal plane of symmetry, creating “handedness.” Chiral molecules have enantiomers, which often interact differently with polarized light and biological systems (enzymes, receptors). Chirality is fundamental in drug design, flavor chemistry, and materials science. Techniques such as polarimetry and chiral chromatography are used to characterize and separate enantiomers.