Chiral objects, like hands, are non-superimposable on their mirror images, while achiral objects, like spheres and cubes, can be superimposed onto their mirror images.
What distinguishes chiral objects from achiral objects in terms of superimposability with their mirror images?
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Chiral objects are non-superimposable on their mirror images, while achiral objects are superimposable. A chiral object lacks an internal plane of symmetry, and its mirror image cannot be aligned with the original through rotation and translation. In contrast, achiral objects possess an internal plane of symmetry, allowing their mirror image to align perfectly when flipped. The non-superimposability of chiral objects and their mirror images gives rise to enantiomers, distinct mirror-image isomers with different optical activities. Achiral objects, being superimposable on their mirror images, do not exhibit this property.