levorotatory

Also le·vo·ro·ta·ry

[lee-vuh-roh-tuh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee]

adjective

Optics, Chemistry, Biochemistry.

1. turning to the left, as the rotation to the left of the plane of polarization of light in certain crystals and compounds. l-

levorotatory

1. Relating to a substance that causes levorotation.

Word History and Origins

Origin of levorotatory¹

First recorded in 1870–75; levo- + rotatory

Example Sentences

Sucrose is dextrorotatory, but since fructose has a greater specific rotatory action to the left than glucose has to the right, the mixture resulting from the hydrolysis of sucrose is levorotatory.

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It is levorotatory or dextrorotatory according to the temperature and concentration.

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The gums are translucent, amorphous substances, whose solutions in water are levorotatory.

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The glucosides, after extraction and purification by recrystallization, are generally colorless, crystalline solids, having a bitter taste and levorotatory optical activity.

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It is levorotatory, and when hydrolyzed by acids or by the enzyme inulinase yields fructose; in fact, inulin bears the same relation to fructose that starch does to glucose.

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