optical activity

American  

noun

Physical Chemistry.

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

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optical activity British  

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of optical activity

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

It must also be remembered that a cover glass, once compressed, may part with its acquired optical activity very slowly, and some time must be allowed to elapse before it is used again.

From Scientific American Supplement No. 822, October 3, 1891 by Various

The glucosides, after extraction and purification by recrystallization, are generally colorless, crystalline solids, having a bitter taste and levorotatory optical activity.

From The Chemistry of Plant Life by Thatcher, Roscoe Wilfred

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

From Scientific American Supplement No. 822, October 3, 1891 by Various

Suffice it to mention that temperature plays an important part in the determination of the optical activity of certain essential oils, notably in the case of lemon and orange oils.

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