What is the formula for specific optical rotation?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking for the formula used to calculate specific optical rotation, which is a property related to the rotation of polarized light as it passes through a solution of a chiral compound. This involves understanding the relationship between the angle of rotation, the concentration of the solution, path length, and specific rotation constant.
Answer
[α]θλ = α/γl
The formula for specific optical rotation is [α]θλ = α/γl, where [α]θλ is the specific rotation, α is the observed angle of rotation, γ is the mass concentration, and l is the path length.
Answer for screen readers
The formula for specific optical rotation is [α]θλ = α/γl, where [α]θλ is the specific rotation, α is the observed angle of rotation, γ is the mass concentration, and l is the path length.
More Information
Specific rotation is used to describe the optical activity of a substance, which is the rotation of plane-polarized light as it passes through a chiral compound. This property is essential in characterizing various substances in chemistry and understanding stereochemistry.
Tips
A common mistake is confusing the units used in calculating the mass concentration and path length; ensure they are consistent (usually g/mL for concentration and decimeters for length).
Sources
- Specific Rotation - Wikipedia - en.wikipedia.org
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