Physics Project Report

Title:- To calculate the specific rotation for the mixture of

two miscible liquids and establish a relation between the
specific rotations of the two liquids and that of the mixture.

Indian Institute of Science Education & Research, Kolkata

Semester-II
2008

By:-
Ashish Agarwal (Roll No. 65)
Harsh Purwar (Roll No. 76)

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 Contents

Abstract 03

Keywords 03

Aim of the Experiment 03

Theory 03

Procedure 04

Observations 04

Inference 05

Error Analysis 06

Sources of error 06

Acknowledgements & References 06

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Abstract:-
In this experiment we first calculated the specific rotation of sugar solution and tartaric acid
for three different concentrations (15%, 10% & 5%) and then for the mixture of the two
solutions. The specific rotations (α) of the two solutions and the mixture are related to each
other by the following relation:-
αmixture = (αsugar +/- αtartaric acid)/2

where:-
αmixture is the specific rotation of the mixture of the two
solutions.
αsugar is the specific rotation of the sugar solution.
αtartaric acid is the specific rotation of the tartaric acid.

Keywords:-
Optical activity or rotation, polarization, specific rotation, analyzer, polarizer, polarimeter,
chiral.

Aim:- To calculate the specific rotation for the mixture of two miscible liquids and
establish a relation between the specific rotations of the two liquids and that of the mixture.

Theory:-
OPTICAL ROTATION:- Rotation of the plane of polarization of a linearly polarized light beam
as it passes through an optically active medium.

LINEARLY POLARIZED LIGHT:- Ordinary white light is made up of waves that fluctuate at all
possible angles. Light is said to be "linearly polarized" when it contains waves that only
fluctuate in one specific plane.

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POLARIZER:- A polarizer is a device that converts an un-polarized beam of light into a beam
with a single polarization state.

POLARIMETER:- A device used to measure the angle, by which an optically active compound
rotates the linearly polarized light beam.
Consists of:
• A polarizer (Nicol Prism)
• An analyzer
• Liquid column
• Scale for measurement of θ

The rotation angle (θ) is proportional to the path length through the medium (l), and in case
of a solution also to the concentration (c) of the chiral substance.
So,
θ = α*c*l
where α is called specific rotation.

Procedure:-

1. Prepare 15%, 10% and 5% solutions (w/v) of sugar and tartaric acid separately.
2. Note readings of the main and Vernier scale when tube is filled with only tap water.
3. Then find θsugar for the sugar solution of 15% strength.
4. Similarly find θtartaric for tartaric acid of 15% strength.
5. Mix both the solutions and then again calculate θmix for the mixture.
6. Same procedure is repeated for other concentrations also.

Observations:-
For Tap Water
Mean reading in Mean reading in Average R1 Average R2
degrees for Ist Vernier degrees for IInd Vernier
(R1) (R2)
5.8 185.8
5.4 185.5 5.6 185.6
5.6 185.5

For sugar solutions

Conc. Of sugar Mean Mean Mean Ratio of Mean Specific
solution reading reading Rotation of rotation θ/c θ/c Rotation
(%w/v) in in vernier(Vi -Ri) (degree) θ/cl
degrees degrees (degree)
for 1st for 2nd
vernier vernier
15 212.6 32.8 207.1 13.8
207.0

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 207.2
10 137.8 327.6 132.2 132.1 13.21 13.53 67.66
33
132.0
5 73.9 253.5 68.3 68.1 13.6
67.9

For tartaric acid solutions:

Conc. Of Mean Mean Mean Ratio of Mean Specific
sugar reading reading Rotation rotation θ/c θ/c Rotation
solution in in of vernier (degree) θ/cl
(%w/v) degrees degrees (Vi -Ri)
for 1st for 2nd (degree)
vernier vernier
15 44.4 224.2 38.8 38.7 2.58
38.6
10 31.4 211.6 25.8 25.9 2.59 2.596 12.98
26.0
5 18.6 198.8 13.0 13.1 2.62
13.2

For mixtures of sugar and tartaric acid solutions:

Conc. of Mean Mean Mean Ratio of Mean Specific
sugar reading reading Rotation rotation θ/c θ/c Rotation
solution in in of vernier (degree) θ/cl
(%w/v) degrees degrees (Vi -Ri)
for 1st for 2nd (degree)
vernier vernier
15 92.9 272.9 87.3 87.3 5.82
87.3
10 61.8 241.7 56.2 56.15 5.615 5.725 28.625
56.1
5 34.3 214.3 28.7 28.7 5.74
28.7

Inference:-
The sugar being dextrorotatory and the tartaric acid leavorotatory
θmix = θsugar – θtartaric

αmix cl = (αsugarcl)/2 – (αtartariccl)/2

αmix = (αsugar – αtartaric)/2

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Using above relation we got:-
αmix = 27.34

Experimental value of αmix = 28.625

Here, both experimental values and theoretical value are very close to each other.
Hence both the solutions are behaving independently.
So, we can say that there is no rection going on between sugar and tartaric acid.

Error Analysis:-

Experimental Value of αmixture is found to be 28.625

Using the relation, αmix = (αsugar – αtartaric)/2

We got αmixture = 27.34

So, the percentage error = [(Experimental value – Theoretical value) / Theoretical value] x
100

Percentage error = [(28.625-27.34)/27.34]*100

= 4.7%

Sources of Error:-
• The substance is to be completely dissolved in the water.
• The presence of air bubble in the liquid column.
• On long run the temperarture of the solution may change due to the heat radiated
by sodium lamp.

Acknowledgements & References

We would like to thank following faculty members and our friends.
 Dr. Sanjib Bagchi
 Dr. Swapan Kumar Dutta
We would also like to thank Mr. Subhash for his great help.

And our references are

• www.wikipedia.org
• www.google.co.in
• http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu
• http://physics-animations.com/Physics/English
• http://www.britannica.com