ABSTRACT
Polarimetry is the study of the rotation of the plan of the plan-polarized light by transparent substances The knowledge of the sign ± of the rotation and the value of the rotation angle is interesting in qualitative, structural analysis and also in quantitative analysis. The chapter mentions some recalls concerning the structure of a luminous wave, the polarized light, a polarizer and an analyzer, the plane of polarization and the nature of the polarized light and the apparatus used in polarimetry. The simple formula giving the optical rotation of a pure compound in specific conditions is also mentioned. The variables affecting the optical activity are the wavelength, the specific rotatory power, the nature of the solvent and the influence of the temperature. Polarimetry is, overall, a methodology of quantitative analysis. It is based on the relation linking the concentration of the substance optically active to the optical rotation measured with the polarimeter.
