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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.

Specific gravity at 15° C., 0.889-0.897; optical rotation, +15°.

From The Handbook of Soap Manufacture by Simmons, W. H.

West Indian.—Specific gravity at 15° C., 0.948-0.967; optical rotation, +13° 30' to +30°; insoluble in 70 per cent. alcohol.

From The Handbook of Soap Manufacture by Simmons, W. H.

Specific gravity at 30° C., 0.967-0.975; optical rotation, -4° 30' to -7°; refractive index at 20° C., 1.506-1.507; soluble in 3 to 5 volumes of 70 per cent. alcohol.

From The Handbook of Soap Manufacture by Simmons, W. H.

Specific gravity at 15° C., 0.874-0.880; optical rotation, -11° 30' to -16°; refractive index at 20° C., 1.4608-1.4630; soluble in 1.5 to 2 volumes of 70 per cent. alcohol.

From The Handbook of Soap Manufacture by Simmons, W. H.

Specific gravity at 15° C., 0.907-0.915; optical rotation, +77° to +79°; refractive index at 20° C., 1.485-1.486; soluble in 3 to 8 volumes of 80 per cent. alcohol.

From The Handbook of Soap Manufacture by Simmons, W. H.

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