CIRCULAR DICHROISM Meaning and
Definition
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Circular dichroism (CD) refers to the differential absorption of left- and right-circularly polarized light by a substance. It is a spectroscopic technique widely used in the fields of chemistry, biology, and materials science to characterize the structural and electronic properties of chiral molecules, such as proteins, nucleic acids, and organic compounds.
CD arises from the interaction between circularly polarized light and the chiral centers or asymmetric structures within a molecule. When circularly polarized light passes through a sample, it experiences different absorption coefficients for left- and right-handed circular polarization. This differential absorption results in a net difference in the intensity of transmitted light, which can be quantified as a CD spectrum.
The CD spectrum provides valuable information about the secondary and tertiary structure of biomolecules and can be used to study conformational changes, ligand binding, folding/unfolding kinetics, and protein-protein interactions. It is also used to determine the stereochemistry of organic compounds.
CD spectroscopy typically covers the ultraviolet and visible regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, and the measured CD signals can be positive or negative, depending on the direction of the circular polarization relative to the sample's optical activity.
Overall, circular dichroism is a versatile and nondestructive analytical technique used to study the chiral nature and structural features of molecules, enabling a deeper understanding of their properties and behavior.
Common Misspellings for CIRCULAR DICHROISM
- xircular dichroism
- vircular dichroism
- fircular dichroism
- dircular dichroism
- curcular dichroism
- cjrcular dichroism
- ckrcular dichroism
- corcular dichroism
- c9rcular dichroism
- c8rcular dichroism
- ciecular dichroism
- cidcular dichroism
- cifcular dichroism
- citcular dichroism
- ci5cular dichroism
- ci4cular dichroism
- cirxular dichroism
- cirvular dichroism
- cirfular dichroism
- cirdular dichroism
Etymology of CIRCULAR DICHROISM
The word "circular dichroism" has its origins in Latin and Greek.
The term "circular" comes from the Latin word "circulus", meaning "circle" or "ring". It refers to the fact that circular dichroism measures the difference in circular polarization between left-handed and right-handed circularly polarized light.
"Dichroism" comes from the Greek word "dikhroos", which means "having two colors". It describes the phenomenon of differential absorption of light based on its polarization, resulting in two different colors or intensities of light observed.
Therefore, the word "circular dichroism" combines the Greek term "dichroism" with the Latin word "circular", reflecting the two colors or intensities observed when circularly polarized light interacts with a sample.
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