Determination of Specific Rotation and
Strength of Unknown Sugar Solution
Polarimetrically
Performed by
Dr. A. Sujith
Dr. M. Sankaralingam
Dr. Manaf
November 12, 2024 Department of Chemistry, NIT Calicut 1
Polarimeter-Instrumentation
Optically active
compounds
Analyser, A rotatable Polariser.
Lens rotated till no light goes
Polarimeter through the second lens.
Tube (20 cm Optical rotation is measured
length)
Fixed Polariser
Plane of the light
(can’t rotate)
changed its direction
Na-light source
November 12, 2024 Department of Chemistry, NIT Calicut 2
Polarimetry-Principle
Optically
active
or
Polariser compounds
(-) (+)
Levororotatory Dextrorotatory
Sodium Plane of
light Polarised
light
The magnitude of the observed optical activity is dependent on
temperature, the wavelength of light used, solvent, concentration of the
chiral sample, and the path length of the sample tube (path length is the
length that the plane-polarized light travels through the chiral sample).
November 12, 2024 Department of Chemistry, NIT Calicut 3
Determination of Specific Rotation and Strength of
Unknown Sugar Solution Polarimetrically
Aim: To determine the strength and specific rotation of unknown
sugar solution.
Principle: The sugar solution rotates the plane polarized light to the
right. The optical rotation depends on the concentration of the sugar
solution by the equation.
[]T = 100 /lc
D
Where, [α]T is specific rotation at temperature, T and source light Na
D
- D line
Theta -is the observed optical rotation in degrees.
L - is cell path length in decimeters.
C - is concentration in g dL-1
November 12, 2024 Department of Chemistry, NIT Calicut 4
Procedure
Prepare different solutions of concentrations (40 %, 30 %, 20 %, l0 %)
by using given 50 % sugar solution.
Fill the polarimeter tube with distilled water and the zero reading of
polarimeter is determined.
Water is removed; the tube is dried and filled with 50% sugar solution
and find the angle of rotation.
Repeat the same procedure for all the other solutions including
unknown solution.
A graph is plotted with angle of rotation (T) on Y axis and
concentration on X axis. From the graph concentration of unknown
solution is calculated.
November 12, 2024 Department of Chemistry, NIT Calicut 5
Observations- Unknown 1
S. No Concentration Angle of rotation
[]T = 100 /lc
in g/100 mL observed (θ) D
1 10 10 50
2 20 20 50
3 30 30 50
4 40 40 50
5 50 50 50
Unknown x 18
Average value [α]T 50
D
l = 2 dm
Results:
1. Specific rotation[α]T
D
2. Unknown concentration from the graph
November 12, 2024 Department of Chemistry, NIT Calicut 6
Observations- Unknown 2
S. No Concentration Angle of rotation
[]T = 100 /lc
in g/100 mL observed (θ) D
1 10 10 50
2 20 20 50
3 30 30 50
4 40 40 50
5 50 50 50
Unknown x 26
Average value [α]T 50
D
l = 2 dm
Results:
1. Specific rotation[α]T
D
2. Unknown concentration from the graph
November 12, 2024 Department of Chemistry, NIT Calicut 7
Observations- Unknown 3
S. No Concentration Angle of rotation
[]T = 100 /lc
in g/100 mL observed (θ) D
1 10 12 50
2 20 23 57.5
3 30 32 53.3
4 40 42 52.5
5 50 52 52
Unknown x 37
Average value [α]T 55.06
D
l = 2 dm
Results:
1. Specific rotation[α]T
D
2. Unknown concentration from the graph
November 12, 2024 Department of Chemistry, NIT Calicut 8
Thank you
November 12, 2024 Department of Chemistry, NIT Calicut 9
