Optical activity is the property of an organic substances which refers to the character of an organics as a result of which, it rotates…
Optical activity is the property of an organic substances which refers to the character of an organics as a result of which, it rotates plane polarized light source which is produced by passing it through Nicol prism. Such phenomenon occurs whenever polarized light is allowed to passed through organic solutions and the compounds which shows such characteristics are categorized as optically active compounds/substances. Any chemical compound which is capable of optical rotation are termed as optically active compounds. As such two enantiomers are very alike, mirror images of each other and share many characteristics such as same boiling point, melting point, colour, density as well as solubility. In other words, an enantiomers pair has similar physical characteristics except the way they interconnect with polarized light sources. Optical activity of a compound is the ability of that compound to oscillate and rotate polarization plane when the solution of that compound is exposed to plane-polarized light. We can calculate the degrees of rotation of plane polarized light source by the instrument called polarimeter of Perkin-Elmer Model 141 using a Na lamp of 584 nm (D-line) which is fitted with digital system for recording.














