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Enantiomer is a term used in chemistry to describe a pair of molecules that are mirror images of each other but are not superimposable on one another. These molecules are often referred to as a "pair of enantiomers" or an "enantiomeric pair." Enantiomers are typically formed when a chiral center is present in a molecule, meaning that the molecule does not have a plane of symmetry and its non-superimposition is a result of its chirality.

One enantiomer is not simply a reflection of the other, with the up and down orientations of improper dihedral angles corresponding to relative positions of atoms in space. When under the same chemical conditions, enantiomers exhibit similar physical and chemical properties with the exception of their ability to rotate plane-polarized light. The direction in which light is rotated by the individual molecules is described as either D- (dextrorotatory) or L- (levorotatory). Enantiomers with equal energy levels may also interact differently with other types of molecules or biological systems.

Enantiomers can arise as a result of several factors, including the presence of asymmetric carbon atoms. Optical activity allows for the direct discrimination of the enantiomeric pair in the laboratory. While in the crystalline state all isomers are distinct, the lack of any distinguishing physical properties for enantiomers leads to difficulties in identifying them at the molecular level.

As a result of their asymmetry, enantiomers display very different interactions with other molecules and even with light, often playing a key role in biological processes. The study of enantiomers in biochemistry has numerous implications for such fields as pharmacology and environmental science.