optical activity

noun

, Physical Chemistry.

1. the ability of a substance to rotate the plane of polarization of plane-polarized light.

optical activity

noun

1. the ability of substances that are optical isomers to rotate the plane of polarization of a transmitted beam of plane-polarized light

Word History and Origins

Origin of optical activity¹

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

What importance the question of optical activity of the lactic acid may assume is not definitely known.

From Project Gutenberg

The lyotrope series also influence the optical activity of gelatine sols and the double refraction of strained gels.

From Project Gutenberg

The water used must be either distilled water or clear water which has been found to have no optical activity.

From Project Gutenberg