Parity violation

Violation of (space) parity in atomic physics, molecular physics and chemistry is briefly reviewed. The review is structured by frequently asked questions related to the concept of space parity, its violation and the consequences thereof in physics, chemistry and biology. This article is categorized under: Theoretical and Physical Chemistry > Spectroscopy Structure and Mechanism > Molecular Structures Theoretical and Physical Chemistry > Thermochemistry Violation of the fundamental symmetry with respect to spatial inversion (parity, P) gives rise to an energy difference between nonidentical mirror image molecules. This and other consequences of parity violation in physics, chemistry and biology are discussed.