Chirality Centers

Chirality centers, or chiral centers, are specific atoms in molecules that are bonded to four different groups or atoms. This arrangement creates a distinction between two mirror-image forms of the molecule, much like how your left and right hands are mirror images but not identical. These forms are known as enantiomers. Chirality is important in chemistry and biology because different enantiomers can have very different properties and effects, particularly in pharmaceuticals. Thus, understanding chirality centers helps scientists design drugs that are effective and safe, since one form may be beneficial while the other could be harmful.