Enantiomorphic symmetry breaking in crystallization of molten sodium chlorate.
Enantiomorphic symmetry breaking of stirred samples of molten sodium chlorate is demonstrated, revealing the unexpected involvement of an achiral solid phase. The results should stimulate future computational models of nucleation, including symmetry breaking, and have implications for mechanisms that invoke enantiomorphism in natural minerals to explain biohomochirality.
Ward
Martin R
MR
School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, EH9 3JJ, UK.
Copeland
Gary W
GW
Alexander
Andrew J
AJ