A chiral molecule is a molecule that is not superimposable on its mirror image. This means that the molecule exists in two non-superimposable forms, known as enantiomers.
A molecule is chiral if it contains at least one carbon atom that is bonded to four different groups. This is known as a chiral center. If a molecule does not have a chiral center, it is not chiral.
Chirality is important in chemistry because chiral molecules have different physical and chemical properties from their mirror images. This can have significant impacts on biological processes, drug effectiveness, and chemical reactions.
The main difference between a chiral and an achiral molecule is that chiral molecules have a mirror image that cannot be superimposed, while achiral molecules have a mirror image that can be superimposed. Additionally, chiral molecules exhibit optical activity, while achiral molecules do not.
Chiral molecules can have different effects on the body depending on their orientation. For example, one enantiomer of a drug may be effective while the other enantiomer may have no effect or even negative side effects. This is why it is important for pharmaceutical companies to produce drugs in their desired chiral form.