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Polarization - Optical Activity

Authors: Ms. Giselle dos Santos Castro - Federal University of Ceara - UFC
Dr. Nildo Loiola Dias - Federal University of Ceara - UFC

CONTROLS:

- Choose one of the optically active substances.
- Choose the color filter.
- Use the “Solution Concentration” cursor to define the solution concentration.
- Use the “Reservoir Length” cursor to define the length that the light will travel inside the solution.
- Click on the point located on the edge of the analyzer to rotate it, in order to measure the rotation in the plane of polarization of light caused by the optically active substance under study.
- Mark the “Solution with unknown concentration” checkbox to choose a solution with unknown concentration of optically active substance for analysis.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SIMULATION:

This simulation makes it possible to study the optical activity of a substance as a function of the wavelength (color) of the light used, the concentration of the solution and the length that light travels through the solution. There is the possibility of choosing an optically active substance out of three (Fructose, Glucose and Sucrose). In the simulation, a white light source on the left can only have one transmitted color by choosing one of four color filters. Monochromatic light transmitted by the color filter, strikes a polarizer, is polarized, and then passes through a recipient containing an optically active substance. An analyzing filter makes it possible to determine the rotation of the plane of polarization caused by the test substance solution. It is also possible to analyze a solution sample of each of the three optically active substances with unknown concentration in order to determine its concentration.

For an analysis of the data, consult one of the proposed ACTIVITY GUIDE.

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