What is chirality?
Sometimes two molecules can exist as non-superimposable mirror-images. That is to say, the mirror image of a molecule cannot be exactly placed on top of the original molecule.
A good example of this is your hands: they are mirror images of one another, but cannot be exactly placed on top of each other.
Pairs of molecules that exhibit this property are known as enantiomers. When a carbon atom is bonded to four distinct groups, this is known as a chiral centre, and two enantiomers of this arrangement are seen.
PB
Related Chemistry A Level answers
All answers ▸Describe two different test tube reactions to identify the following organic compounds: propanal and benzoic acid.
Why is the first ionisation energy lower in barium compared to calcium?
Why is scandium not considered a true transition metal?
How does increasing the temperature affect the yield of products of a reaction at equilibrium, where the forward reaction is exothermic?