What is the significance of the plane of symmetry in determining the chirality of molecules in chemistry?

The plane of symmetry is important in determining the chirality of molecules because if a molecule has a plane of symmetry, it is achiral, meaning it is not chiral. Chirality refers to the property of a molecule that cannot be superimposed on its mirror image. Molecules that are chiral have different spatial arrangements of atoms and cannot be rotated or flipped to match their mirror image. The presence or absence of a plane of symmetry helps determine whether a molecule is chiral or achiral, which is important in understanding its chemical properties and interactions.