Chirality is a property of certain molecules and objects in which they are non-superimposable on their mirror images. In other words, a chiral object or molecule cannot be exactly superimposed onto its mirror image, much like a left and right hand.
The term "chirality" comes from the Greek word cheir, meaning hand, emphasizing the handedness or asymmetry of the object or molecule. A molecule or an object with this property is said to be chiral, while its non-superimposable mirror image is called its enantiomer.
In chemistry, chirality is especially important in the study of organic molecules, particularly those involved in biological processes. Chirality can have significant effects on the properties and interactions of molecules. For example, two enantiomers of a chiral drug may have different effects on the human body due to their interactions with chiral biomolecules.
Chirality is often represented using the Fischer projection or the wedge-and-dash notation in structural formulas. The study of chirality falls under the broader field of stereochemistry, which explores the three-dimensional arrangement of atoms in molecules.