ABSTRACT
Chirality is a form of stereoisomerism that embraces the relationship between two or more isomers having the same structure but with different configurations. The phenomenon of chirality is omnipresent in nature, and its presence in humans, animals, and plants determines their chemical structure and also the majority of their living functions. Chiral chromatographic systems are most frequently composed of either a chiral stationary phase with a nonchiral mobile phase or vice versa. Chromatographic separation of diastereoisomers can be obtained in a chromatographic system composed of an achiral stationary phase and an achiral mobile phase. Chirality studies also proved very important for the dating of the organic fossils, and, hence, fortified archeology, geoarcheology, paleontobiology, and the related fields of knowledge with a very well-performing diagnostic tool based on naturally occurring homochirality. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.
