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<p><strong>Chirality,</strong> <em>handedness</em>, derived from the Greek <em>χειρ, kheir,</em> "hand" is an asymmetry property important in several branches of science.</p>
<p>An object or a system is called <strong>chiral</strong> if it differs from its mirror image, and its mirror image cannot superimpose on the original object. A chiral object and its mirror image are called <strong>enantiomorphs</strong> (Greek <em>opposite forms</em>) or, when referring to molecules, <strong>enantiomers</strong>. A non-chiral object is called <strong>achiral</strong> (sometimes also <strong>amphichiral</strong>) and can be superimposed on its mirror image.</p>
<p><strong>Chirality</strong> may also refer to:</p>
<ul>
<li>Chirality (chemistry) of some molecules </li>
<li>Chirality (mathematics) of mathematical objects </li>
<li>Chirality (physics) of some subatomic particles </li>
<li>The chirality of certain crystalline solids. Of the 230 existing space groups 65 are chiral. Sodium chlorate is an achiral ionic compound but crystallizes in a chiral P2<sub>1</sub>3 space group. An example of an achiral organic compound forming chiral crystals is benzil. Racemic acid is the racemic form of tartaric acid forming a mixture of two enantiomorphic crystals each form consisting of one of the two enantiomers. </li>
<li>The chirality of surfaces. Materials with bulk chirality can be cleaved exposing a chiral surface. </li>
<li>Chirality (biology) of gastropod shells. Most spirally coiled gastropod shells are "right-handed" in their coiling, but a minority are "left-handed". </li>
</ul>
<p><a id="See_also" name="See_also"></a></p>
<h2><span class="mw-headline">See also</span></h2>
<ul>
<li><a title="Handedness" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handedness">Handedness</a> </li>
<li><a title="Rigid body" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rigid_body">Rigid body</a> </li>
<li><a title="Symmetry" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symmetry">Symmetry</a> </li>
</ul>
<p>An object or a system is called <strong>chiral</strong> if it differs from its mirror image, and its mirror image cannot superimpose on the original object. A chiral object and its mirror image are called <strong>enantiomorphs</strong> (Greek <em>opposite forms</em>) or, when referring to molecules, <strong>enantiomers</strong>. A non-chiral object is called <strong>achiral</strong> (sometimes also <strong>amphichiral</strong>) and can be superimposed on its mirror image.</p>
<p><strong>Chirality</strong> may also refer to:</p>
<ul>
<li>Chirality (chemistry) of some molecules </li>
<li>Chirality (mathematics) of mathematical objects </li>
<li>Chirality (physics) of some subatomic particles </li>
<li>The chirality of certain crystalline solids. Of the 230 existing space groups 65 are chiral. Sodium chlorate is an achiral ionic compound but crystallizes in a chiral P2<sub>1</sub>3 space group. An example of an achiral organic compound forming chiral crystals is benzil. Racemic acid is the racemic form of tartaric acid forming a mixture of two enantiomorphic crystals each form consisting of one of the two enantiomers. </li>
<li>The chirality of surfaces. Materials with bulk chirality can be cleaved exposing a chiral surface. </li>
<li>Chirality (biology) of gastropod shells. Most spirally coiled gastropod shells are "right-handed" in their coiling, but a minority are "left-handed". </li>
</ul>
<p><a id="See_also" name="See_also"></a></p>
<h2><span class="mw-headline">See also</span></h2>
<ul>
<li><a title="Handedness" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handedness">Handedness</a> </li>
<li><a title="Rigid body" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rigid_body">Rigid body</a> </li>
<li><a title="Symmetry" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symmetry">Symmetry</a> </li>
</ul>