Using the SR-6 Polarimeter

Filling the Measuring Tube The measuring tube has a wider end and a narrow end. Open the cap on the narrow end. The cap contains a glass disc and a rubber gasket. Fill the tube completely and try to avoid forming air bubbles in the tube. Once filled, slide the glass cover disc from the side of the tube over the opening. Close the end of the tube with the gasket and cap securely, but not too tightly. Make sure the outside of the tube and caps are completely dry before taking a measurement.

Measuring Procedure Turn the vernier so that the zero is at the zero of the circular scale. Adjust the magnifying lens so that the dividing line between the semicircles is in focus. The halves should appear of equal brightness. Insert a filled measuring tube into the measuring chamber with the wider end up and rotate the light shield over the sample. If the semicircle on the right is darker, the sample dextrorotatory (rotates light to the right); if the semicircle on the left is darker, the sample is levorotatory (rotates light to the left).

levorotatory
turn vernier to the left

dextrorotatory
turn vernier to the right

Turn the vernier in the same direction as the rotation until the first point where the semicircles are of equal brightness and read the scale. Other places on the scale will also show equal brightness, so be careful no to overshoot the angle. Read the angle of rotation based on where the vernier zero line lies on the scale. In the example on the right, the vernier zero line lies between the 1o and 2o marks on the scale. The decimal can be estimated based on the relative distance between the 1o and 2o marks. For a more precise reading, the sixth line of the vernier and the scale match exactly, making the reading 1.6o.

Be sure to thoroughly rinse the tube, threads, cap, gasket and glass cover after the experiment. NEVER use acetone on a polarimetry tube.