EXPERIMENT-7

1. AIM: Determination of specific rotation of sugar solution.

2. OBJECTIVE: To determine the specific rotation of sugar solution using a Laurent’s Half Shade polarimeter.

3. APPARATUS USED
1. Laurent’s Half-Shade Polarimeter.
2. Monochromatic light source (sodium lamp)
3. 50 c.c. flask
4. Two beakers
5. Weight box
6. Polarimeter tube
7. Sugar Cubes
8. Distilled Water

4. FORMULA USED
𝛉
𝐒 = 𝐥.𝐂 degree (dm)-1(gm/cc)-1

Where θ = rotation in degrees

l = length of the solution in decimeters
C=Concentration of solution in gm/cc

5. THEORY:

In order to calculate the specific rotation of sugar solution which is an optically active substance; we need
to know about the optically active phenomenon and its basics.

Phenomenon of Optical Activity & Optically Active substance:

Optically Active substance: Those substances which respond to the plane polarized light i.e. they have
the ability to rotate the plane of vibration of incident light are called optically active substances.
Phenomenon: According to Fresnel’s theory, when a plane polarized light is incident on an optically
active substance, on passing through the optically active substance, the plane of vibration of incident plane
polarized plane is rotated either on right hand side (Dextrorotatory-sugar solution) or on left hand
side (laevorotatory- D-Fructose). This phenomenon is called optical rotation.
The various derivative of sugar is optically active. The optical rotation of few are given below

▪ D-Fructose −92.4°
▪ D-Glucose +52.5°
▪ D-Sucrose +66.47°
▪ D-Lactose +52.3°
▪ Camphor +44.1°

+ Sign denotes dextro rotation and - sign denotes laevo rotation. All values are given in units of degree
dm−1cm3 g−1.

Specific rotation (S) is the angle of rotation (θ) when Unit concentration (1 gm/c.c.) is filled in a
polarimeter tube of unit length (in decimeter) i.e. l=1dm. ‘S’ is a fixed value for a particular wavelength (λ)
of light used and temperature (T) of ambient at with the measurement were performed.

Since, angle of rotation (θ) α l (length of polarimeter tube in decimeter (dm)) ….[1]
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and angle of rotation (θ) α c (Concentration of optically active substance in gm/cc) ….[2]

Combining eq. [1] and [2], we get

Θ α l. c

Taking proportionality constant S which is defined as specific rotation of optically active substance, we
get

Θ = S. l. c or

Specific rotation (𝐒)𝛌𝐓 = θ/ (l. c)

Determination of concentration of sugar in a solution:

Here θ (angle of rotation) is determined experimentally using a Laurent’s half Shade

polarimeter in Laboratory.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

LAURENT’S HALF SHADE POLARIMETER

Polarimeter: A polarimeter is an instrument which comprises of a

i. Monochromatic Source/White Light Source

ii. Polarizer,
iii. Half Shade Device,
iv. Polarimeter Tube (To Fill Optically Active Substance)
v. Analyzer (Again a polarizer used to analyze the intensity of light).

This instrument is used to determine the angle of rotation (θ) of an optically active substance.

Laurent’s’ Polarimeter: It is the polarimeter in which a monochromatic light and a half shade
device (i.e. λ/2 retardation plate) is used.

Half Shade device and its working: It consists of a Circular plate in which a semicircular half wave
plate of quartz is cemented to a semicircular plate of glass [see Fig. 1 (a)]. As mentioned, the quartz is a
positive doubly refracting crystal (DRC). The vertical line in Fig. 1(a) denotes direction of optic axis in DRC.
The quartz plate is a DRC plate in which the optic axis is parallel to refracting surface (for details refer topic
–Polarization in syllabus). Hence, this quartz plate has the ability to rotate incident polarized light by 180 0
(or π).

The thickness of quartz is such that it introduces a phase difference of 1800 (or π) between E and O
rays. The thickness of glass plate is such that it transmits the same amount of light as done by the quartz
wave plate (in this case glass does not produce any change in the plane of incident light).

The light is simultaneously made to incident on the circular Half Shade plate (i.e. the half portion of
incident light is made to pass through glass and another half is made to pass through quartz).

In Fig. 1(b) the unpolarized light from a monochromatic source is made to pass through a polarizer.
After passing through polarizer it becomes linearly polarized having vibrations along CQ, it is then made to
pass through the Laurent’s Half Shade plate. On passing through glass the vibrations remain along CQ
whereas on passing through quartz the vibrations splits into E and O rays and the quartz half wave plate
introduces a phase difference of 1800 between E and O rays and the resultant vibration in Quartz are along
CQ’. The Laurent’s plate is then made to be observed trough an analyzer which is rotated in clockwise

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direction using nobe at circular scale (in Fig. 2) at various positions in different quadrants of the circular
scale.

Need of introducing the Half Shade Device:

It is not possible for us (observer) to distinguish the intensity variations of a light, in Polarimeter
therefore a half- shade device is installed which provides a reference condition (condition of equally
illuminated portion of both sides of a half shade device) to measure an angle on circular scale.
This experiment is actually performed in two steps:
Firstly: The readings of equally illuminated portion in Half shade device is taken with WATER which is
considered as reference reading.
Secondly: The observation of equally illuminated portion of Half Shade device is again taken with the
given SUGAR solution
Half shade device rotates the light incident (CQ) in CQ’ direction hence, the light is observed in CQ’ and CQ
both directions (refer Fig. 1(a)). Following three conditions arises (see Fig. 1(b) and read further) among
which condition (iii) when both sides of half shade device are equally illuminated is used to measure
the angle on circular scale in both cases first and second above.

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 6. PROCEDURE

i. Weight about 4gms of sugar and dissolve it in 100 c.c. of water. This is cane sugar solution.
ii. Switch on the sodium lamp and clean the polarimeter tube and fill it with distilled water and screw the
end caps so that no air bubble remains in the tube. Place the tube in proper position.
iii. Look through the analyzer and rotate it clockwise till the two halves of the field of view are of the same
intensity. This position is such that slight rotation makes one half dark and the other half bright and
slight rotation in the opposite direction will make first half bright and the other half dark.
iv. Take the reading of the analyzer. Rotate the analyzer further in the clockwise direction when half
portion becomes dark. Note down the readings of the analyzer in clockwise direction (a).
v. Again adjust the analyzer in equally bright position and now rotate it in the anticlockwise direction and
when half portion becomes dark, note the readings in anticlockwise direction (b).
vi. Now from equally bright positions rotate the analyzer in the clockwise direction by 180o and repeat the
procedure to note down clockwise and anti-clockwise rotation (c) & (d).
vii. Remove the distilled water from the tube and rinse the tube with the prepared sugar solution and then
fill it completely with this solution. Adjust again in clockwise and anticlockwise directions.
viii. Take the cane sugar solution from the tube in the beaker and add 50c.c. water again. Then again put
this solution in the tube.
ix. Take the reading for at least two different concentrations.
x. Measure the length of the tube and convert this into decimeters.

7. OBSERVATIONS
100
Value of one main scale division 10
Least count of circular scale of the polarimeter (L.C.) = = 10
10
= 10
= 0.10
number of division on Vernier Scale

Mass of sugar cube (m) = 4 gm

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Volume of water (V) = 50 cc and 100 cc
4
Concentration of solution: C1 = m/V= gm/c.c. (concentrated sugar solution)
50

4
Concentration of solution: C2 = m/V = gm/c.c. (diluted sugar solution)
100

Length of polarimeter tube: l = 20 cm = 2 decimeter (dm)

Room Temperature = 27o C

Total Reading (TR) = Main Scale Reading (MS) + (Vernier Scale’s coinciding division with main scale division
(VS) x L.C.)

Table:

Optical Rotation θ at various concentration of sugar solution:

S. Concentration First position of the analyzer (before Second position of the analyzer (after Mean
No rotating by 1800) rotating by 1800) Ɵ(degree)
position of position of position of position of
analyzer in analyzer in analyzer in analyzer in
clockwise anticlockwise clockwise anticlockwise
direction (a) direction (b) direction (c) direction (d)
TR TR TR θ=
MS VS TR (a) MS VS MS VS MS VS
(b) (c) (d) (a+b+c+d)/4
water 42 3 42.3 100 4 100.4 201 1 210.1 310 3 310.3 163.52

C1 51 7 51.7 110 3 110.3 211 2 211.2 320 2 320.2 173.35

(4/50 gm/cc)
C2 46 6 46.6 105 2 105.2 206 3 206.3 315 1 315.1 168.30
(4/100 gm/cc)

8. CALCULATION

1. The angle of rotation (θ1) for concentration C1= (mean of θ for concentration C1) ~ (mean of θ for water) ⇒173.35 o - 163.52 o = 9.83o
2. The angle of rotation (θ2) for concentration C2= (mean of θ for concentration C2) ~ (mean of θ for water) ⇒168.30 o - 163.52 o = 4.78 o
3. Now, the specific rotation for concentration C1 and C2 will be:
𝜃1
𝑆1 = 𝑙 degree (dm)-1(gm/cc)-1
𝐶1

𝜃2
𝑆1 = degree (dm)-1(gm/cc)-1
𝑙 𝐶2

𝑺𝟏+𝑺𝟐
4. Hence, the average value of specific rotation 𝑺= = …………..degree (dm)-1(gm/cc)-1
𝟐

9. RESULT
𝑺𝟏+𝑺𝟐
The average value of specific rotation 𝑺= =……. degree (dm)-1(gm/cc)-1 is the specific
𝟐
rotation (s) of the sugar solution.

Standard value = +66.5o (dm)-1 (gm/cc)-1

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 Observed Value ~ Standard value
Percentage Error = x 100 = ⋯ %
Standard Value

10. RESULT ANALYSIS & DISCUSSION

▪ The property of rotating the plane of polarization of linearly polarized light by passing through a
substance is called optical rotation and such substance is called optically active substances.
▪ The specific rotation of sugar solution calculated is as discussed above
▪ The specific rotation remains constant for a particular substance. If we change the concentration of
solution or the length of the tube, the corresponding value of optical rotation θ changes (since θ is
directly proportional to length and concentration) and thus specific rotation remains unchanged.
▪ Specific rotation depends on temperature. In some substances (like turpentine) it diminishes with
rise in temperature while in other (like quartz) it increases with rise in temperature.
▪ Laurent’s Half Shade Polarimeter can only be used with monochromatic light source. Bi-
quartz polarimeter is used with white light.
▪ The plane of polarization for different wavelength will be rotated through different extents
1
resulting into the phenomenon of dispersion. (𝜃 ∝ 𝜆2 ).

11. INFERENCES & CONCLUSIONS

The specific rotation remains constant for a particular substance. If we change the concentration (C)
of solution or the length (L) of the tube the specific rotation (S) remains unchanged. Specific
rotation changes on varying the temperature or wavelength of light of source or both.

12. LEARNRNING OUTCOME

In this experiment we have calculated the optical rotation produced by an optically active substance
(sugar solution) for different concentrations and hence we also calculated the specific rotation of the
solution.

13. APPLICATIONS

This Experiment is used to determine the specific rotation of an optically active substance.
▪ It is can also be used to calculate the concentration of sugar in the optically active solution.

14. PRECAUTIONS

1. Distilled water is preferable to prepare the sugar solution.

2. Air bubbles free solution inside the polarimeter tube allows the plane polarized light to pass
through the solution. So, air bubbles should be removed carefully.
3. The analyzer should be rotated carefully, and the readings should be observed accurately by using
reading lamp and magnifier lens.

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