Preferred Label : optical activity;
IUPAC definition : A sample of material able to rotate the plane of polarization of a beam of transmitted
plane-polarized light is said to possess optical activity (or to be optically active).
This optical rotation is the classical distinguishing characteristic (sufficient but
not necessary) of systems containing unequal amounts of corresponding enantiomers.
An enantiomer causing rotation in a clockwise direction (when viewed in the direction
facing the oncoming light beam) under specified conditions is called dextrorotatory
and its chemical name or formula is designated by the prefix ( )-; one causing rotation
in the opposite sense is laevorotatory and designated by the prefix ( )-. Materials
with optical activity also exhibit other chiroptic phenomena.;
Origin ID : O04303;
See also
A sample of material able to rotate the plane of polarization of a beam of transmitted
plane-polarized light is said to possess optical activity (or to be optically active).
This optical rotation is the classical distinguishing characteristic (sufficient but
not necessary) of systems containing unequal amounts of corresponding enantiomers.
An enantiomer causing rotation in a clockwise direction (when viewed in the direction
facing the oncoming light beam) under specified conditions is called dextrorotatory
and its chemical name or formula is designated by the prefix ( )-; one causing rotation
in the opposite sense is laevorotatory and designated by the prefix ( )-. Materials
with optical activity also exhibit other chiroptic phenomena.
