5-2 The Reason for Handedness in Molecules: Chirality Chiral -From the Greek cheir meaning "hand" Molecules that are not identical to their mirror images,and thus exist in two enantiomeric forms A molecule is not chiral if it has a plane of symmetry Plane of symmetry A plane that cuts through the middle of an object (or molecule)so that one half of the object is a mirror image of the other halfChiral ▪ From the Greek cheir meaning “hand” ▪ Molecules that are not identical to their mirror images, and thus exist in two enantiomeric forms ▪ A molecule is not chiral if it has a plane of symmetry Plane of symmetry ▪ A plane that cuts through the middle of an object (or molecule) so that one half of the object is a mirror image of the other half 5-2 The Reason for Handedness in Molecules: Chirality