chiral
キラル
解説 Definition
chiral は「キラルな」、つまり鏡像と重ね合わせることができない性質を持つという意味です。日本語の「キラル」と同じく、化学や物理で分子や構造の左右性を説明するときによく使われます。
A chiral molecule, object, or structure cannot be superimposed on its mirror image, even after rotation. In chemistry, chirality often allows a compound to exist as two distinct mirror-image forms called enantiomers.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
ギリシャ語 cheir「手」に由来し、右手と左手の関係を思い浮かべます。両者は鏡像でも、回転させるだけでは完全に重なりません。同様に mirror-image forms を持ち、鏡像と重ね合わせられない分子や構造が chiral です。achiral はその反対で、化学では chiral molecule、chiral center を一緒に覚えると便利です。
Link chiral to the Greek word for “hand.” Your left and right hands are mirror images, but no rotation makes one fit exactly over the other; this is the central image of chirality. Apply it to the common combinations chiral molecule, chiral compound, chiral center, and chiral structure. Two mirror-image forms of a chiral compound are enantiomers. The opposite term is achiral, for something that can be superimposed on its mirror image. This hand test gives a precise scientific memory aid, not merely a sound association.
例文
This molecule is chiral.
この分子はキラルです。
A chiral compound can have two mirror-image forms.
キラルな化合物には、鏡像関係にある二つの形がありえます。
The experiment showed that the material had a chiral structure.
その実験により、その材料がキラルな構造を持つことが示されました。
chiral の類義語・関連語
chiral の語源・成り立ち Etymology
ギリシャ語cheir（χείρ、手）に由来し、1893年にケルヴィン卿が造語。左手と右手のように鏡像が重ね合わせられない性質を「手」に喩えた。関連語：chiropractor（手で治療する人）、surgery（手仕事→外科）。
Chiral was coined in the late nineteenth century by physicist William Thomson, later Lord Kelvin, from Greek cheir, meaning “hand.” The choice reflects the relationship between left and right hands: they are mirror images but cannot be exactly superimposed. The adjective was created to describe this property in geometric or physical forms and became especially important in chemistry. Chirality is the corresponding noun, while achiral adds the negative prefix a- to indicate the absence of this property.
同じレベルの英単語をもっと
外部辞書で調べる
この単語を英単語クイズで覚えよう