Chiral: a confusing etymology.
Although Lord Kelvin first defined the word "chiral" in 1893-1894, references in the literature give dates varying from 1884 to 1904. He referred previously to hetero and homochiral in 1873 in a note that is now lost. Apparently overlooked have been his definitions of hetero and homochiral in a text that he coauthored in 1879. The etymology of these and other related neologisms is considered.
Bentley
Ronald
R
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. rbentley@pitt.edu
D015394:Molecular Structure; D013237:Stereoisomerism