Figure 1.
Energy level diagram depicts a system evolving through chemical reactions of chiral residues (◐ and ◑). Compounds of the same energy, Gk, relative to the average energy, kBT, are on the same level in numbers, Nk. Their exchange (curved arrows) is of no consequence, but reactions (vertical arrows) involving compounds with different energy, Gj, in numbers, Nj, coupled with the flux of quanta with energy, ΔQjk (wavy arrows), move the system towards thermodynamic balance with its energy-rich surroundings. In general, reactions yield mixed-handed polymers. Only if chiral-pure products turn out to catalyse their own enantioselective polymerization will the multiple mixed-polymer reactions fall behind in furthering the system towards thermodynamic balance.