polárométert

A polárométert is an optical instrument used to measure the optical rotation of a chiral substance. Optical rotation is the phenomenon where a chiral molecule, when dissolved in a solution, rotates the plane of polarized light. The polárométert quantifies the extent and direction of this rotation.

The principle of operation involves passing polarized light through a sample cell containing the chiral substance. A polarizer creates linearly polarized light, which then interacts with the sample. If the substance is chiral, the plane of polarization of the light will be rotated as it passes through. The rotated light then passes through an analyzer, which is another polarizer. By rotating the analyzer until it blocks the light (crossed polars) or allows maximum light through (parallel polars), the angle of rotation can be determined. This angle is directly proportional to the concentration of the chiral substance and its specific rotation, a characteristic property of the molecule.

Polárométerts are commonly used in chemistry, particularly in organic chemistry and biochemistry, for identifying and quantifying chiral compounds such as sugars, amino acids, and pharmaceuticals. They are essential for determining the enantiomeric purity of a sample, which is crucial for drug development and quality control. Different types of polárométerts exist, including manual and automatic versions, with varying levels of precision and features.