Members: Group 6

Baldago, Angel
Dean, Dorhace
Lapis, Samantha
Semilla, Queenie Mae
Taher, Nihaya

Learning Activity No. 9

OPTICAL ACTIVITY

Introduction:

The ability of a compound to rotate the plane of polarized light is referred to as

optical activity. This feature occurs as a result of the interaction of polarized light's
electromagnetic radiation with the asymmetric electric fields formed by the electrons
in a chiral molecule.

Quantity termed specific rotation defines the intensity of optical activity by relating
the angle of rotation of the plane, light path length and sample density or its
concentration if it is present in a solution. Since the rotation depends on temperature
and light wavelength, these values must be supplied. The rotation is positive if it is
clockwise, and negative if it is counterclockwise. A substance having a positive
specific rotation is dextrorotatory and denoted by the prefix d or (+), while one with
a negative rotation is levorotatory, represented by the prefix l or (-).

All optically active molecule has unique ability to rotate plane polarized light. So,
they rotate at the same angle. This molecular characteristic is used to identify
pharmaceutical substances. Optical rotation is sometimes used to test chemicals.

Objectives:
1. To know how to use the polarimeter
2. To know the uses of polarimeter
3. To know what are the factor that can affect the angle of rotation of
optically activity solution.

Materials and equipments:

 Polarimeter
 Thermometer
 Sucrose
Procedure:
How to use a Polarimeter:

Select a light source. This may be direct light source such as light
bulb on a light source such as a mirror or cloud.

Set the polarimeter to zero degrees and view the selected object
through the polarimeter. Rotate the lens of the polarimeter filter
slowly until you have rotated it in a complete circle. Check for any
changes in brightness. The light is unpolarized if its brightness does
not change as you rotate the lens.

Locate the polarimeter setting at which the light is brightest. This

will generally require you to rotate the lens back and forth a few
times to find the setting of maximum brightest.

Read the setting that produces the maximum brightness. Settings of

zero and 180 degrees indicate a completely vertical polarization, and
settings of 90 and 270 degrees indicate complete horizontal
polarization.

Determine the degree of polarization. Locate the setting where the

light is faintest and estimate the brightness of the faintest setting as a
percentage of the brightest light. If no light at all can be seen on this
setting,
Uses LAPIS polarized. If the brightness doesn’t
the light is completely
of Polarimeter:
change, the light is completely unpolarized.

Supplementary video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1P8rC_Tuq8

Uses of Polarimeter:

 The polarimetric method is a simple and accurate means for determination

and investigation of structure in macro, semi-micro and micro analysis of
expensive and non-duplicable samples.
 Polarimetry is used in many industries such as food industries, cosmetic,
chemical and pharmaceutical industry.
 In pharmaceutical industry, polarimetry is used for purity control and
determination of concentration of substances according to the requirements of
the European and American Pharmacopeia by measurement of both specific
and optical rotation. It's so common that the US Pharmacopoeia and FDA
include polarimetric standards for several drugs.

Factors that can affect the angle of rotation of optically activity solution:

 Temperature
 Light source
 Length of the tube
 Wavelength that it is used for the acquisition
 Concentration of the optical active compound (enantiomer)

Set-up for the Activity:

Question for Analysis:

1. What is optical rotation?

A compound's optical activity rotates the plane of polarized light. This feature
emerges from the interaction of polarized light with the unsymmetric electric
fields generated by chiral electrons.

Optical activity can be observed in fluids, unlike other forms of birefringence

that change the state of polarization. This can include chiral gases or liquids,
such as sugars, helical secondary structure molecules, specific proteins, and
 chiral liquid crystals. It can also be seen in chiral solids like quartz or
metamaterials that rotate between adjacent crystal planes.

A polarimeter measures optical rotation. It generates plane-polarized light

passed through a liquid sample and the angle at which the plane-polarized
light's vibrational plane rotates.

2. What substances or group of substances are optically active?

Optically active substances are classified into two categories. Sugars,

camphor, and tartaric acid are examples of first-class substances optically
active in any state of aggregation. Quartz and cinnabar, for example, are
substances of the second kind that are active only during the crystal phase.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, we already know how to use the polarimeter and its uses to
determine structure in pricey non-duplicable samples using polarimetry is
straightforward and accurate. Lastly, some factors can affect the angle of rotation of
optically activity solution, and these are temperature, light source, length of the tube,
the wavelength that it is used for the acquisition, and concentration of the optical
active compound.

References:

Admin. (2021, March 29). What is optical rotation? - definition, Formula & Applications.
BYJUS. Retrieved November 3, 2021, from https://byjus.com/chemistry/optical-rotation/.

APPLICATION NOTE – GENERAL APPLICATIONS OF POLARIMETERS. (n.d.).

Polarimeter_General_Applications. Retrieved November 6, 2021, from
https://www.reichertai.com/clientuploads/directory/download_pdfs/Polarimeter_General_
Applications_Application_Note.pdf

Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. (n.d.). Optical activity. Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved

November 3, 2021, from https://www.britannica.com/science/optical-activity.

Farlex. (n.d.). Optically active substance. The Free Dictionary. Retrieved November 6, 2021,
from https://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Optically+Active+Substance.

Learn / Engineering and Technology / optically active

https://www.chegg.com/learn/engineering-and-technology/introduction-to-
engineering/optically-active-in-organic-chemistry

Optical activity in pharmaceutical analysis. Pharmaceutical Guidelines. (n.d.). Retrieved

November 3, 2021, from https://www.pharmaguideline.com/2014/06/optical-activity-in-
pharmaceutical-analysis.html.
Optical Activity, Chemistry LibreTexts (2020), Retrived at:
https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Organic_Chemistry/Supplemental_Modules_(Org
anic_Chemistry)/Chirality/Optical_Activity

Optical Rotation, ScienceDirect (2021), Retrieved at:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/biochemistry-genetics-and-molecular-
biology/optical-rotation

Polarimeter, updated Friday, April 01, 2016

https://www.chem.ucla.edu/~bacher/General/30BL/tips/Polarimetry.html#:~:text=The%2
0observed%20specific%20rotation%20%5B%CE%B1,on%20the%20temperature%20as
%20well.

Polarimetry. (n.d.). Retrieved November 6, 2021, from

https://www.chem.ucla.edu/~bacher/General/30BL/tips/Polarimetry.html#:~:text=The%20
observed%20specific%20rotation%20%5B%CE%B1,on%20the%20temperature%20as%2
0well.

Rudolph Research Analytical, Inc. (2021, May 12). Polarimetry Definitions, Fundamentals,
Applications for Industry. Rudolph Research Analytical. Retrieved November 6, 2021, from
https://rudolphresearch.com/products/polarimeters/polarimetry-definitions/

The Polarimeter Experiment,This site is written and maintained by Chris P. Schaller,

Ph.D., College of Saint Benedict / Saint John's University (with contributions from
other authors as noted). It is freely available for educational use.
https://employees.csbsju.edu/cschaller/Principles%20Chem/stereochem/stereo_polarim
etry.htm