chiral

adjective

chi·​ral ˈkī-rəl 

: of or relating to a molecule that is not superimposable on its mirror image

chirality

kī-ˈra-lə-tē 

kə-

noun

Examples of chiral in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In the new study, the researchers coupled chiral liquid crystals with fluorescent dyes that emitted red, green, or blue light. —IEEE Spectrum, 16 Nov. 2023

Electrons with one spin orientation will move more efficiently across a chiral molecule in one direction than the other. —Yasemin Saplakoglu, Quanta Magazine, 6 Sep. 2023

But, strangely, the calculation that came closest used an oversimplified model of the nuclear force—not the chiral effective field theory. —WIRED, 10 Aug. 2023

The newest addition to the list is a chiral bose-liquid state, which scientists just observed for the first time. —Darren Orf, Popular Mechanics, 14 July 2023

Word History

Etymology

chir- + -al entry 1

First Known Use

1894, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing chiral

• chiral center

Medical Definition

chiral

adjective

chi·​ral ˈkī-rəl 

1

a

of a molecule : having a structure that is nonsuperimposable on its mirror image

chiral molecules

b

: relating to or composed of chiral molecules

In discussions of chiral drugs, thalidomide is sometimes cited as a prime example of a drug that differs strikingly in the properties of its two enantiomers.

—Stephen C. Stinson, Chemical & Engineering News

2

: of, relating to, or being a chiral center

chirality

kī-ˈral-ət-ē 

noun

plural chiralities