Illustrated Glossary of Organic Chemistry

Achiral: Any object (not necessarily a molecule) that is superposable (or superimposable) on its mirror image.

Methane is superposable on its mirror image, and therefore achiral.
Verify this observation with your molecular model kit.


(R)-Bromochlorofluoromethane is not superposable on (S)-bromochlorofluoromethane (its mirror image). These molecules are chiral.
Verify this observation with your molecular model kit.


Your hands are chiral (ignoring all jewelry, scars, etc.).
Verify this observation with your own hands.