enantiomer

noun/ɪˈnæntiəmər/

Frequency rank: #19,812 most common English word

Meaning

One of two molecules that are mirror images of each other but cannot be superimposed, like left and right hands.

Illustration for the English word “enantiomer”

Example sentence

The pharmacologist explained that one enantiomer of the drug was therapeutic while its mirror image was toxic.

Synonyms & related words

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