Total Chiral Symmetry Breaking during Crystallization: Who needs a "Mother Crystal"?

TL;DR

This study demonstrates total chiral symmetry breaking in crystallization without the need for a

Contribution

It introduces a new model explaining complete chiral purity through nonlinear autocatalysis and recycling, challenging the traditional

Findings

Complete chiral symmetry breaking achieved without a

Complete symmetry breaking can occur from a racemic initial system.

A new model based on nonlinear autocatalysis explains the process.

Abstract

Processes that can produce states of broken chiral symmetry are of particular interest to physics, chemistry and biology. Chiral symmetry breaking during crystallization of sodium chlorate occurs via the production of secondary crystals of the same handedness from a single "mother crystal" that seeds the solution. Here we report that a large and "symmetric" population of D- and L-crystals moves into complete chiral purity disappearing one of the enantiomers. This result shows: (i) a new symmetry breaking process incompatible with the hypothesis of a single "mother crystal"; (ii) that complete symmetry breaking and chiral purity can be achieved from an initial system with both enantiomers. These findings demand a new explanation to the process of total symmetry breaking in crystallization without the intervention of a "mother crystal" and open the debate on this fascinating phenomenon. We present arguments to show that our experimental data can been explained with a new model of "complete chiral purity induced by nonlinear autocatalysis and recycling".