enantiomerism

enantiomerism /en·an·ti·om·er·ism/ (en-an?te-om´er-izm) the relationship between two stereoisomers having molecules that are mirror images of each other; they have identical chemical and physical properties in an achiral environment but form different products when reacted with other chiral molecules and exhibit optical activity. The enantiomer that rotates the plane of polarization of a beam of polarized light in the clockwise direction is indicated by the prefix (+)-, formerly d- or dextro-; that rotating the plane of polarization in the counterclockwise direction is indicated by the prefix (-)-, formerly l- or levo-.

Enantiomerism.