Polarimeter
From Biocrawler, the free encyclopedia.
A polarimeter is a scientific instrument for measuring the rotation of the plane of polarized light as it passes through a sample of a compound which exhibits optical activity.
It consists of a long tube with flat glass ends, into which a solution of the sample is placed. At each end of the tube is a Nicol prism. Light is shone through the tube, and the prism at the other end (attached to an eye-piece) is rotated until all light is shut off. The angle of rotation is then read off of a scale. The specific rotation of the sample compound may then be calculated.
