Life is remarkably selective. Life relies on many molecules with what is termed “handedness”—they’re chemically identical but are mirror images of each other. Most chemical reactions will make a 50/50 mix of the left- and right-handed forms of a chemical,

This year’s National Chemistry Week theme, “Chemistry Under Construction,” gives us an opportunity to explore the chemistry behind the materials that build our world—from concrete and steel to bricks and polymers.