POLARISTROBOMETER Meaning and
Definition
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A polaristrobometer is a specialized scientific instrument used to measure the rotation of plane-polarized light caused by certain substances. It is primarily utilized in the field of polarimetry, which is the study of how light interacts with optically active substances.
The instrument consists of a light source that emits a beam of polarized light, a sample chamber where the substance being tested is placed, and an optical system for analyzing the light that has passed through the sample. The sample chamber usually contains a solution or a solid material that exhibits optical activity, meaning it can rotate the plane of polarization of light passing through it.
The polaristrobometer works by measuring the angle of rotation of the plane-polarized light after it passes through the substance being tested. This rotation is caused by the substance's molecular structure and its interaction with the polarized light. By analyzing the angle of rotation, scientists can determine important information about the substance, such as its concentration or the chirality (handedness) of its molecules.
Polaristrobometers are widely used in various scientific fields, including chemistry, biochemistry, pharmaceuticals, and materials science. They are particularly valuable in studying the behavior of chiral molecules, which have non-superimposable mirror images. Understanding the optical properties of these molecules is crucial in fields such as drug development, where enantiomers (mirror-image isomers) can have different biological effects.
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A form of polarimeter used in examining sugars.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for POLARISTROBOMETER
Etymology of POLARISTROBOMETER
The word "polaristrobometer" is composed of several roots: "polaris" (meaning "polar" or "polarized"), "trobos" (Greek for "to turn" or "to rotate"), and "meter" (from Greek "metron", meaning "measure"). "Polaris" refers to the concept of polarization, which is the property of light waves to vibrate in a preferred direction. "Trobos" signifies the rotational aspect, indicating the measurement of rotation or rotation-related phenomena. "Meter" denotes an instrument used for measurement. Therefore, "polaristrobometer" is a combination of these roots, indicating an instrument used to measure properties related to the polarization and rotation of light waves.
