achiral
|a-chi-ral|
C1
/ˌeɪˈkaɪrəl/
not chiral; mirror-image identical
Etymology
Etymology Information
'achiral' originates from the prefix 'a-' meaning 'not' and the word 'chiral,' which comes from the Greek 'kheir' meaning 'hand.'
Historical Evolution
'chiral' was formed in the late 19th century from the Greek root, and 'achiral' was later created by adding the prefix 'a-' to indicate the absence of chirality.
Meaning Changes
Initially, 'achiral' meant 'not chiral' in the context of chemistry, and this meaning has remained unchanged.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
not chiral; lacking chirality, especially in chemistry, describing a molecule that is superimposable on its mirror image.
The molecule is achiral because it has a plane of symmetry.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/04 17:55