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Glite Dictionary
chirality

chirality

1 9.8
A way that something is different from its mirror image, like left and right hands
  • noun
  • /kaɪˈrælɪti/
  • Specialized
: quiralidad
  • Molecules with chirality can be found in both nature and synthetic chemistry.
  • chirality is a property

One of them had to do with the chirality, which way the spin was or which way the the alpha was oriented relative to the momentum.

Examples

  • This selectivity, known as chirality, is not associated with any known nonbiological processes (with the tiny exception of the weak nuclear force, which generates a minuscule excess of the left-handed variety).

    Academic text (1996)

  • In rheumatology, the importance of chirality is well illustrated by penicillamine.

    Academic text (1991)

  • So let me show you molecules that have the chirality that distinguishes them.

  • But because of chirality, AB is distinguishable from BA.

  • Chirality makes gossypol difficult to analyze and separate.

    Academic text (2005)

  • It's interesting chemistry, which perhaps takes origin-of-life chemistry one step further towards solving the chirality problem for one particular amino acid.

    Blog text (14)

  • The chirality of organic molecules is now described by the R (rectus) or S (sinister) convention.

    Academic text (1991)

  • Massless spin-1/2 particles such as u and d quarks possess chirality; they are either left- or right-handed.

    Academic text (1999)

  • Understanding chirality is essential for developing effective pharmaceuticals.

  • The concept of chirality helps chemists create substances that interact uniquely with biological systems.

Synonyms

enantiomorphism
vschirality
  • Specialized
9.9

A property of being mirror images that cannot be placed on top of each other, like left and right hands

is the property of a single object being non superimposable on its mirror image

Surface Forms

chirality singular
chiralities plural

Morphology

chirality = chiral (transparent) = chiral + ity

Standard nominalization from the adjective 'chiral' using '-ity' to indicate the property or quality of being chiral.

Etymology

Chirality comes from the Greek root cheir, which means 'hand'. So chirality means 'handedness' — like a left and a right hand are mirror images that do not match when put on top of each other, and scientists use the word the same way for molecules and objects.