Editing Symmetry (section)

===In chemistry===
{{Main|Molecular symmetry}}

Symmetry is important to [[chemistry]] because it undergirds essentially all ''specific'' interactions between molecules in nature (i.e.,  via the interaction of natural and human-made [[chiral (chemistry)|chiral]] molecules with inherently chiral biological systems). The control of the [[molecular symmetry|symmetry]] of molecules produced in modern [[chemical synthesis]] contributes to the ability of scientists to offer [[drug|therapeutic]] interventions with minimal [[side effects]]. A rigorous understanding of symmetry explains fundamental observations in [[quantum chemistry]], and in the applied areas of [[spectroscopy]] and [[crystallography]]. The theory and application of symmetry to these areas of [[physical science]] draws heavily on the mathematical area of [[group theory]].<ref>{{cite book |author1=Lowe, John P |author2=Peterson, Kirk | title=Quantum Chemistry | publisher=Academic Press| edition=Third | year=2005 | isbn=0-12-457551-X}}</ref>