Chirality is a property of certain molecules that have a non-superimposable mirror image. This means that the molecules are asymmetric and cannot be rotated or flipped to match their mirror image.
Chirality is determined by the arrangement of atoms around a central carbon atom. When there are four different groups attached to the carbon, the molecule is chiral. If there are two or more of the same groups attached, the molecule is not chiral.
Chirality can greatly impact a molecule's properties, including its biological activity and how it interacts with other molecules. This is because the two chiral forms, called enantiomers, can have different chemical and physical properties.
Some common examples of chiral molecules include amino acids, sugars, and certain drugs. These molecules play important roles in biological processes and can have different effects depending on their chirality.
No, chirality is a fixed property of a molecule and cannot be changed. However, some reactions can produce a mixture of both chiral forms, known as a racemic mixture, which can be separated into individual enantiomers.