adjective
- lacking chirality; not having a handedness or asymmetry that would produce distinct mirror-image forms
Usage: chemistry; technical
Examples
- Water is an achiral molecule because its mirror image is identical to the original.
- Achiral compounds do not rotate plane-polarized light.
- The achiral nature of the carbon atom in this compound makes it optically inactive.
- Unlike chiral drugs, achiral medications typically have fewer stereoisomeric complications.
- Scientists use achiral solvents in reactions where stereochemistry must not be influenced.