ENANTIOMORPHS (or ENANTIOMERS)
Charles François (2004). ENANTIOMORPHS (or ENANTIOMERS), International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics, 2(1): 1070.
| Collection | International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics |
|---|---|
| Year | 2004 |
| Vol. (num.) | 2(1) |
| ID | ◀ 1070 ▶ |
| Object type | Discipline oriented |
Crystals of similar form but that cannot be superimposed, as one is the mirror image of the other.
Such a type of inverse symmetry - known as chirality seems to be a very basic feature of organization in systems. It was discovered by L. PASTEUR (1822-1895) (levogyre and dextrogyre crystals of tartaric acid)
Complementary enatiomorphic crystals derive polarized light either toward the left, or toward the right respectively.
The same phenomenon appears also in biology, as for example in the opposed complementarity form of the human hands. It is oviously a specific case of the general opposition of symmetry and anti-symmetry.
See also
Chirality