POLARISCOPE

Polariscope or polarimeter is an instrument used to measure the amount of rotation of the plane

of polarized light which occurs when polarized light is passed through a solution of optically

active substance. The essential parts of polariscope include:

Because different wavelengths of polarized lights are rotated differently, it’s necessary to use a

monochromatic light. Ordinarily, the light from incandescent sodium or mercury is used. Special

electric lamps as sources of these lights are available. The light passes through the polarizing

Nicol prism ‘p’ and through the tube‘t’ and also through the analyzing nicol prism ‘a’ and finally

through the lens system ‘e’. The analyzing nicol is mounted in the centre of a large disk with a

vernier scale on the edge so that the prism may be rotated about its optical axis and the angles of

rotation both in degrees and fractions may be read from the scale.

When prism ‘a’ is turned so that its optical axis exactly corresponds to that of prism ‘p,’

polarized light passes from ‘p’ through ‘a’. However, if prism ‘a’ is now turned about its optical

axis, polarized light from ‘p’ does not pass through ’a’ and an observer standing at e sees a dark

field. If prism ‘a’ is set such that is lined up with prism ‘p’ and water or an optically inactive

solution is placed in tube “t”, the observer at ‘e’ sees a light field. Suppose, however, that a

solution of dextro-tartaric acid be placed in ‘t’, then the polarized light from ‘p’, on passing

through the solution is rotated to the right and does not pass through ‘a’, and the observer sees a

dark field. If now the disk supporting ‘a’ is rotated through an angle to the right, corresponding
to the rotation of polarized light by the solution, the light passes through ‘a’, and the observer

sees a light field.

Principles of Optical Rotation as formulated by Biot

(1) An optically active substance has a definite rotation for a given wavelength.

(2) Rotation is proportional to the concentration of an optically active substance.

(3) Rotation is proportional to the thickness of solution through which the light passes.

(4) Rotation varies with temperature.

(5) Rotation varies with wavelength of light

(6) Rotation varies with the nature of solvent.

In view of these principles, it’s necessary to express the rotation of all substances according to a

single definition, so that values may be comparable. This is done by expression as specific

rotation which is defined as rotation in degrees of 1g of substance per millilitre in a tube 1dm

(10cm) in length.

Most substances cannot be used in the pure state for rotation measurement but must be dissolved

in an appropriate solvent. The specific rotation of a pure substance is calculated from the rotation

of its solution according to the equation.

[α] T D
=
α obs × 100

L×C

In which [α] T D = specific rotation at temperature T and with sodium – D light (if the

mercury 5461 wavelength is used, the expression is [α] T

5461 : α obs = observed rotation; L
= length of polariscope tube in decimeter: C = grams of substance in 100 ml of solution.

Observations are usually made at 20 0C. The solvent should be specified. If the specific rotation

of a substance is known, its concentration in a solution may be calculated by rearranging the

above equation.

C= αobs × 100
L ×[α]D T
The molecular rotation of a substance is the product of its specific rotation and molecular weight.

Example

Suppose a solution of an optically active substance contains 5g per 100 ml and the rotation is

observed to be +0.80 in a 2-dm tube at 20 0C using Sodium –D light. The specific rotation is

calculated as follows;

[α] 20 = +0.8 × 100

D = +80 = +80
2×5 10