Molecular Chirality

Molecular chirality refers to the property of a molecule having a non-superimposable mirror image, similar to how your left and right hands are mirror images but not identical. These "handed" molecules, called enantiomers, have the same atoms connected in the same order but differ in their three-dimensional arrangement. This difference can significantly affect how they interact with biological systems, medicines, or chemicals, often leading to different effects or functionalities. Chirality is crucial in chemistry and pharmacology, as the two mirror images can have distinct properties despite their similar structure.