optical activity

noun

, Physical Chemistry.

1. the ability of a substance to rotate the plane of polarization of plane-polarized light.

optical activity

noun

1. the ability of substances that are optical isomers to rotate the plane of polarization of a transmitted beam of plane-polarized light

Word History and Origins

Origin of optical activity¹

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

Anomalous x-ray diffraction and vibrational optical activity measurements are broadly used to determine absolute configurations of solid or liquid samples.

From Science Magazine

It may be said, however, that generally both the qualitative tests for, and the quantitative measurements of, the accelerating influence of enzymes depend upon the observation of some change in the physical properties of the substrate material, such as the optical activity, electrical conductivity, or viscosity, of its solution.

From Project Gutenberg

The glucosides, after extraction and purification by recrystallization, are generally colorless, crystalline solids, having a bitter taste and levorotatory optical activity.

From Project Gutenberg

Suffice it to mention that temperature plays an important part in the determination of the optical activity of certain essential oils, notably in the case of lemon and orange oils.

From Project Gutenberg

It must also be remembered that a cover glass, once compressed, may part with its acquired optical activity very slowly, and some time must be allowed to elapse before it is used again.

From Project Gutenberg