Principle
The rotation of the plane of polarisation through a sugar solution measured with a half-shade polarimeter and the reaction rate constant for the inversion of cane sugar determined.
Benefits
- Even transparent fluids can change the properties of light passing them
- Find out how fast one type of sugar changes into another one
- Use optical methods, involving the plane of polarisation, to observe chemical processes
Tasks
- To determine the specific rotation of cane sugar (sucrose) and lactose by measuring the rotation of various solutions of known concentration.
- To determine the reaction rate constant when cane sugar is transformed into invert sugar.
Learning objectives
- Half-shade principle
- Optical rotatory power
- Optical activity
- Saccharimetry
- Specific rotation
- Reaction rate
- Weber-Fechner law