without the exchange of atoms. Chirality is a significant concept in stereoisomerism, where molecules exist as non-superimposable mirror images known as enantiomers. A classic example is the drug thalidomide, which has two enantiomers: one form is therapeutic, while the other is teratogenic, illustrating the profound implications of stereochemistry in pharmacology.
provides the actual number of atoms per molecule. Identifying these formulas is essential for understanding the stoichiometric relationships in reactions.