ed9b00763_si_001.pdf (1.86 MB)
Demonstrating Basic Properties and Application of Polarimetry Using a Self-Constructed Polarimeter
journal contribution
posted on 2020-06-30, 19:13 authored by Lise Kvittingen, Birte Johanne SjursnesAn easily constructed and inexpensive
polarimeter with an optical
rotation angle resolution of about 0.5° is presented. It is made
from small pieces of polarizing film, 2 LEDs, a protractor, and a
few wires, all held in place with plastic interlocking toy bricks,
such as Lego bricks. The instrument was used to demonstrate the optical
rotation of plane polarized light as a function of concentration,
path length, temperature, and wavelength, and to determine enantiomeric
excess in solutions of arabinose, the amount of limonene in citrus
ski wax remover, and optical rotations of various types of honeys
and essential oils. Results were comparable to values obtained on
a commercial scientific instrument, and with literature values.