Final answer:
Chiral compounds have similar physical and chemical properties but differ in optical activity and biological activity due to their non-superimposable mirror image structures.
Step-by-step explanation:
The physical and chemical properties of chiral compounds are largely similar, with a few significant exceptions. One notable difference is their optical activity; chiral compounds can rotate the plane of plane-polarized light, which is not the case for achiral compounds.
Using a polarimeter, this optical activity can be measured, allowing us to distinguish between two enantiomers, where one is dextrorotatory and the other is levorotatory.
Furthermore, while chiral molecules have the same melting point, boiling point, and density, their biological activity can differ significantly due to their interaction with other chiral substances, such as enzymes and receptors.
This is largely due to the fact that they are non-superimposable mirror images of each other, similar to left and right hands, and interact differently in chiral environments.