DEXTROROTATORY Meaning and
Definition
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Dextrorotatory is an adjective used to describe a molecule or substance that exhibits the property of rotating the plane of polarized light in a clockwise direction when viewed from behind the light source. The term is derived from the Latin words "dextro" meaning right and "rotare" meaning to rotate. Dextrorotatory is often denoted by the symbol (+) or the letter "d".
In the field of chemistry, dextrorotatory is commonly used to differentiate between enantiomers, which are mirror-image isomers that cannot be superimposed onto each other. Enantiomers have the same chemical formula and similar physical properties, but their behavior towards polarized light distinguishes them. When an enantiomer is dextrorotatory, its mirror image counterpart is levorotatory, meaning it rotates the polarized light counterclockwise.
Dextrorotatory compounds are prevalent in nature. For example, many carbohydrates, such as glucose, fructose, and galactose, are dextrorotatory. The presence of dextrorotatory sugars in food can be detected and quantified using a polarimeter, an instrument specifically designed to measure the rotation of polarized light.
In summary, dextrorotatory refers to the property of a substance or molecule to rotate polarized light in a clockwise direction. This term is often used in the context of distinguishing enantiomers, specifically when the compound rotates the plane of polarization to the right.
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Turning the plane of polarization to the right, noting certain crystals, and solutions of dextrin, dextrose, tartaric acid, and various other substances.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for DEXTROROTATORY
- sextrorotatory
- xextrorotatory
- cextrorotatory
- fextrorotatory
- rextrorotatory
- eextrorotatory
- dwxtrorotatory
- dsxtrorotatory
- ddxtrorotatory
- drxtrorotatory
- d4xtrorotatory
- d3xtrorotatory
- deztrorotatory
- dectrorotatory
- dedtrorotatory
- destrorotatory
- dexrrorotatory
- dexfrorotatory
- dexgrorotatory
Etymology of DEXTROROTATORY
The word "dextrorotatory" has its origins in two Latin words: "dexter" meaning "right" or "on the right-hand side" and "rotatus" meaning "turned" or "rotated". The term is commonly used in chemistry and physics to describe a substance that rotates the plane of polarized light in a clockwise direction when observed in a spectroscope. The "dextrorotatory" prefix indicates the specific direction of rotation, which is to the right.
Similar spelling words for DEXTROROTATORY
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