Steady Rotation of Polarization in a Sugar Solution

Also known as "Optical Activity"

Type of activity: demo

Activity code: L-004d

Description:

1. Dissolve lots of sugars (corn syrup, fructose, sucrose, etc) into hot water. (eg. 600g fructose/500ml water) 2. Place a polaroid on the projector. 3. Place the beaker on the first polaroid. 4. While holding the other polaroid, pour the sugar solution into the beaker to increasing depth. 5. Show how polarization twists with increasing depth of the solution by rotating the held polaroid. Note: careful to not spill onto the overhead projector!

Apparatus