Chiral: Difference between revisions

From The Portal Wiki
(Created page with "Something which is chiral is not symmetric about it's own center. It's mirror image is asymmetric. The example often used to demonstrate this concept is one's own hand: Rotat...")
 
No edit summary
 
(2 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
Something which is chiral is not symmetric about it's own center. It's mirror image is asymmetric. The example often used to demonstrate this concept is one's own hand:  
Something which is chiral is not symmetric about its own center. Its mirror image is asymmetric. The example often used to demonstrate this concept is one's own hand:  
Rotating one's own hand 180° does not return it to the original shape. The thumb and the pinky trade places and the front is distinct from the back.
Rotating one's own hand 180° does not return it to the original shape. The thumb and the pinky trade places and the front is distinct from the back.
<gallery>
<gallery>
Line 5: Line 5:
Chiral_After.png|One's own hand after rotation (Thumb on right, pinky on left).
Chiral_After.png|One's own hand after rotation (Thumb on right, pinky on left).
Symmetry.png|The system of both hands is symmetric despite the individual chirality.
Symmetry.png|The system of both hands is symmetric despite the individual chirality.
SymmetryInChiralSystems.png|Some items may be asymmetric themselves but when paired with another have some symmetry.
</gallery>
</gallery>
{{Stub}}
{{Stub}}

Latest revision as of 22:05, 14 May 2023

Something which is chiral is not symmetric about its own center. Its mirror image is asymmetric. The example often used to demonstrate this concept is one's own hand: Rotating one's own hand 180° does not return it to the original shape. The thumb and the pinky trade places and the front is distinct from the back.

MW-Icon-Warning.png This article is a stub. You can help us by editing this page and expanding it.