POLARIMETER
Aim:
The aim of this project is to construct a simple polarimeter to
measure the optical rotation of an optically active substance and
understand the principles of polarimetry.
Materials Required:
Light Source (e.g., flashlight or laser pointer)
Polarizing Film (for polarizer and analyzer)
Sample Tube
Mounting Materials (e.g., cardboard, box)
Power Source (e.g., batteries or power supply)
Optically Active Substance (e.g., sugar solution)
Theory
Polarized Light: Light consists of waves vibrating in various
directions. Polarized light is created by filtering out all but one
direction of vibration, resulting in light waves aligned in a
single plane.
Optical Rotation: Certain substances, due to their molecular
structure, can rotate the plane of polarized light as it passes
through them. This property is known as optical activity, and
the degree of rotation is measured as an angle, typically
denoted as α.
Polarimeter Components:
Polarizer: Creates polarized light.
Sample Chamber: Holds the substance to be analyzed.
Analyzer: Measures the angle of rotation.
Detector: Records the intensity of light after passing
through the analyzer.
Malus's Law: Describes how the intensity of polarized light
changes as it passes through an analyzer at a specific angle.
It's given by I = I₀ * cos²(θ), where I is intensity, I₀ is initial
intensity, and θ is the angle between the polarized light's plane
and the analyzer's axis.
Measurement: In a polarimeter, you rotate the analyzer until
you find the angle at which light intensity is maximized. This
angle corresponds to the optical rotation angle (α) caused by
the substance in the sample chamber.
Specific Rotation: You can calculate specific rotation (α) using
observed optical rotation angle (αobs), concentration (c), and
path length (l) through the substance: α = αobs / (c * l).
Procedure:
1. Assemble the components as shown in the figure.
2. Calibrate the polarimeter :
3. Set the analyzer to 0 degrees.
4. Measure and record the initial intensity of light passing
through the sample tube with no optically active substance.
5. This reading represents the baseline intensity.
6. Prepare your optically active substance (e.g., dissolve sugar in
water to create a sugar solution).
7. Fill the sample tube with the prepared substance.
8. Set the analyzer to a specific angle (e.g., 10 degrees) and
measure the intensity of light passing through the sample
tube.
9. observe the analyzer in small increments (e.g., 5-degree
intervals) and record the intensity of light at each angle.
Observations:
Slno. Type of Optical activity Starting angle Final angle
(In degree) (In degree)
1. Dextrorotatory 0 35.5
2. Dextrorotatory 10 45.4
3. Dextrorotatory 20 55.6
4. Dextrorotatory 30 65.5
Mean Optical rotation = (0-35.5)+(10-45.4)+(20-55.6)+(30-65.5)
4
= 35.5 degree
10.Continue this process until you have a series of intensity
measurements at different analyzer angles.
11.Analyze your data:
12.Identify the angle at which the intensity of light is
minimized.
13.This is the angle of optical rotation.
14.Compare the observed angle with literature values if
available.
Results:
The sugar solution is Dextrorotatory with an optical rotation of
35.5 degree
