Examples: The central carbon in serine is a chiral carbon. The amino group and hydrogen can rotate about the carbon.
Return to the Chemistry Glossary Index
Chiral Center Definition
Chemistry Glossary Definition of Chiral Center
By Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D., About.com Guide
This is an example of chirality of amino acids, using hands to illustrate how the molecules are mirror images of each other.
NASASee More About
Definition: A chiral center is defined as an atom in a molecule that is bonded to four different chemical species, allowing for optical isomerism.
Examples: The central carbon in serine is a chiral carbon. The amino group and hydrogen can rotate about the carbon.
Examples: The central carbon in serine is a chiral carbon. The amino group and hydrogen can rotate about the carbon.
Related Articles
- Principal Species Definition - Chemistry Glossary Definition of Principal S...
- Bond Dissociation Energy Definition - Chemistry Glossary Definition of Bond...
- Base Dissociation Constant Definition - Chemistry Glossary Definition of Ba...
- pH Definition - Chemistry Glossary Definition of pH
- Atomic Mass Unit (amu) Definition - Chemistry Glossary Definition of Atomic...
Top Related Searches chemistry glossary chiral carbon central carbon chiral center amino group glossary index
Explore Chemistry
- About.com
- Education
- Chemistry
- Chemistry Facts
- Dictionaries & Glossaries
- Chemistry Glossary
- Chiral Center Definition - Chemistry Glossary Definition of Chiral Center