optical rotation

noun

Physical Chemistry.

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

optical rotation

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of optical rotation¹

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

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.

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American.—Specific gravity at 15° C., 0.906-0.920; optical rotation, -20° to -33°; total menthol, 50-60 per cent.; free menthol, 40-50 per cent.

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The following figures may be taken as limits for pure oils:— French and Dalmatian.—Specific gravity at 15° C., 0.900-0.916; optical rotation, usually dextro-rotatory, up to +15°, but may occasionally be lævo-rotatory, especially if stalks have been distilled with the leaves; ester, calculated as bornyl acetate, 1-6 per cent.; total borneol, 12-18 per cent.; usually soluble in 1-2 volumes of 82.5 per cent. alcohol.

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Specific gravity at 15° C., 1.180-1.187; optical rotation, Gaultheria oil, up to -1°, Betula oil, inactive; ester as methyl salicylate, at least 98 per cent.; refractive index at 20° C., 1.5354-1.5364; soluble in 2-6 volumes of 70 per cent. alcohol.

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The article has the specific gravity at 15° C., 0.870-0.876; optical rotation, -12° to -14°; refractive index at 20° C., 1.463-1.464; and when estimated by acetylation, yields about 70 per cent. of alcohols.

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