Optical Rotation Measurement with a Novel Polarimeter

TCE

The Chemical Educator

ISSN: 1430-4171 (electronic version)

Table of Contents

Abstract Volume 18 (2013) pp 088-095
DOI 10.1007/s00897132476a

Optical Rotation Measurement with a Novel Polarimeter

John C. O’C. Young

Department of Chemistry, Saint Mary’s University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, B3H 3C3, john.young@smu.ca Received October 26, 2012.
Accepted March 16, 2013.

Published: 3 May 2013

Abstract. The specific rotational angle of plane polarized light produced by optically active substances in solution serves as an aid to their identification and to the measurement of their concentration and purity, and may for example be used to investigate the kinetics of reactions involving such substances. The use of a novel, low-cost, moderately sensitive polarimeter is illustrated for determining the specific rotational angle of sucrose and the rate and order of its hydrolysis into fructose and glucose in acidic aqueous solution.

Key Words: Laboratories and Demonstrations; physical chemistry

(*) Corresponding author. (E-mail: john.young@smu.ca )

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