chiraaliset

Chiraaliset is a Finnish term that translates to "chiral" in English. In chemistry, chirality refers to a geometric property of some molecules and ions. A chiral molecule is one that is non-superimposable on its mirror image. This is analogous to how a person's left and right hands are mirror images of each other but cannot be perfectly superimposed.

Molecules that are chiral exist as a pair of enantiomers. Enantiomers are stereoisomers that are non-superimposable mirror images. They have the same chemical formula and connectivity of atoms but differ in their three-dimensional arrangement. This difference in arrangement can lead to significant differences in their physical and biological properties.

The concept of chirality is fundamental in stereochemistry and has widespread implications in various fields, including organic chemistry, biochemistry, and pharmacology. For example, many biological molecules, such as amino acids and sugars, are chiral. The specific enantiomer present in biological systems often dictates its function. In the pharmaceutical industry, the chirality of a drug molecule is crucial, as different enantiomers can have vastly different therapeutic effects, or one enantiomer might be beneficial while the other is inactive or even toxic. The presence of a chiral center, typically a carbon atom bonded to four different groups, is a common cause of chirality in molecules.