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optical rotation

American  

noun

Physical Chemistry.
  1. the angle at which the plane of polarized light is rotated when passed through an optically active substance.


optical rotation British  

noun

  1. the angle through which plane-polarized light is rotated in its passage through a substance exhibiting optical activity

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of optical rotation

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The d modification is of the commonest occurrence, the other forms being only known as synthetic products; for this reason it is usually termed glucose, simply; alternative names are dextrose, grape sugar and diabetic sugar, in allusion to its right-handed optical rotation, its occurrence in large quantity in grapes, and in the urine of diabetic patients respectively.

From Project Gutenberg

Titre, °C. Iodine No. Optical Rotation αD Refractive Index at 25° C. 310 1.5 2.8 84.1 + 4° 50' 1.4787 Fish and Marine Animal Oils.—Various oils of this class have, until recently, entered largely into the composition of soft soaps, but a demand has now arisen for soft soaps made from vegetable oils.

From Project Gutenberg

Specific gravity at 15° C., 0.980-0.990; optical rotation, faintly dextro- or lævo-rotatory, +0° 30' to -2°; refractive index at 20° C., 1.553-1.555; solidifying point, 14°-17° C.; solubility in 90 per cent. alcohol, 1 in 3 or 4.

From Project Gutenberg

Specific gravity at 15° C., 0.965-0.980; optical rotation, slightly lævo-rotatory up to -3°; phenols, estimated by absorption with 5 per cent. caustic potash solution, from 45 to 60 per cent.; the oil is generally insoluble in 90 per cent. alcohol, though when freshly distilled it dissolves in its own volume of alcohol of this strength.

From Project Gutenberg

Specific gravity at 15° C., 0.880-0.886; optical rotation, +10° to +20°; esters, calculated as linalyl acetate, 35-40 per cent., and occasionally as high as 42-43 per cent.; frequently soluble in 1.5 parts of 80 per cent. alcohol, or failing that, should dissolve in one volume of 82.5 or 85 per cent. alcohol.

From Project Gutenberg