Simple rotational axes C_n are not mentioned in our chirality criterion. In fact, their presence or absence has no consequence for chirality. In particular, a chiral object or molecule may contain any number of C_n of any n. A chiral molecule does not have to be asymmetric, it is dissymmetric, where dissymmetry means lack of S_n.

The molecules shown on the following pages are all chiral, having more and more symmetry.

Lactic acid is asymmetric:

mirror image lactic acid