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.

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optical rotation British  

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of optical rotation

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

Spanish Oil.—Specific gravity at 15° C., 0.900-0.915; optical rotation, -2° to +7°; esters, calculated as linalyl acetate, 2-6 per cent.; soluble in 1-2 volumes of 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.

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.

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.

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.