The Reason for Handedness:Chirality Achiral molecule:has a plane of symmetry and is superimposable on its mirror image A plane of symmetry is a plane that passes through a molecule in such a way that what is on one side of the plane is the exact reflection of what is on the other side NOT Symmetry symmetry plane plane CH CH H H H OH CO,H CO,H OH CH CH2CO.H CH CHCO,H Propanoic acid Lactic acid (achiral) (chiral) The Reason for Handedness: Chirality „ Achiral molecule: has a plane of symmetry and is superimposable on its mirror image „ A plane of symmetry is a plane that passes through a molecule in such a way that what is on one side of the plane is the exact reflection of what is on the other side