The Effects of Subtle External Stimuli on Chiral Symmetry Breaking During Crystallization of Sodium Chlorate from Aqueous Solutions

How does chiral symmetry breaking occur such that biomolecules have a distinct handedness that is essential for life? The purpose of this study is to test whether certain subtle external stimuli influence chiral symmetry breaking using a model system of sodium chlorate crystallization from aqueous solutions. In 28 controlled experiments, aliquots of a stock solution of sodium chlorate (NaClO3) were transferred to crystallization dishes and incubated 24-30 hours. Crystals formed slowly by evaporation under isothermal conditions. Controls were left untreated while test solutions were exposed to the following subtle external stimuli: (1) a dynamic magnetic field; (2) 432 Hz sine wave acoustic field; (3) Amezcua BioDisc-3, a purported water structurizer; (4) Purple Plate, a subtle energy product; and a (5) wooden pyramidal structure. In addition, several experiments were performed with solutions using Vivo® structured water, a commercial product. The number and chirality of crystals from all experiments were analyzed using polarimetry to distinguish d-crystals from l-crystals. Data was pooled for each exposure condition. While controls yielded no significant difference in the percentage of d-crystals and l-crystals, a significantly larger percentage of d-crystals were found for test conditions (2) 67% (p=0.049); (3) 81% (p=0.034); and (4) 64.9% (p=0.003). Test conditions (1), (5), and Vivo® aqueous solutions produced insignificant differences. This study demonstrates that aqueous solutions are open systems that may be impacted by certain subtle external stimuli that influence solute crystallization and chiral asymmetry. Introduction Chirality is the ability of an object to exist in two opposite configurations that are mirror images of one another, such as right and left hands. Molecules or crystal lattices presenting two such configurations are chiral. Chirality and chiral asymmetry are observed throughout the natural world. Besides the quantum spin of particles and chiral biomolecules, there are spiral seashells, spirally climbing vines, and spiral galaxies, among other forms. The origin of homochirality is one of the great unanswered questions in physics, chemistry, the origin of life, and evolutionary science. Therefore, studies on the processes and mechanisms of action that lead to chiral symmetry breaking are of general interest. There is an overwhelming single-handedness of the components of life. Biomolecules are chiral and enantiomerically pure, with L-amino acids and D-sugars as building blocks of larger biomolecules. Enantiomers have the same physical properties such as melting point and refractive index, but typically have quite different biological properties since the absolute configuration of biomolecules with stereo-specificity determines biologic effect. Chiral symmetry breaking may be related to prebiotic mechanisms and the origin of life. Is it chance or determinism? Although numerous laboratory experiments have produced some degree of homochirality, the mechanism of chiral symmetry breaking in aqueous solution is poorly understood. Various model systems have been used to probe this question.