← Optical Phenomena

Optical Activity

Rotation (589nm): 66.5°
Specific rotation: +66.5°/(dm·g/mL)
Transmitted color

Optical Activity

Chiral molecules (like sugar) rotate the plane of polarized light. Different wavelengths rotate by different amounts — this is optical rotatory dispersion.

Through a second polarizer, you see beautiful colors because some wavelengths are blocked while others pass. Saccharimeters use this principle to measure sugar concentration in the food industry.