chirality

[prettygoodword]

chirality (kai-RAL-i-tee) - n., the property of not being superimposable on its own mirror image.


The adjective form is chiral. This is used in chemistry, physics, and mathematics, mainly, so a type of scientific jargon, but it's still cool. Coined in 1893 by Lord Kelvin from Greek root kheír, hand -- because hands are the objects we are most familiar with that have chirality.


Thanks, Anu Garg/A.Word.A.Day!

---L.

Comments

[sunlit_stone]

Lol--yeah--really not the most important point to settle. A neat word, regardless.