Optical activity

{
  "id": "MLC-T-CHM-008267",
  "term": "Optical activity",
  "field": "Chemistry",
  "definition": "The ability of a chiral substance to rotate the plane of plane-polarized light as it passes through the substance. This phenomenon arises from the interaction of the light's electromagnetic field with the asymmetric molecular structure. The direction and magnitude of rotation are characteristic of the specific enantiomer and its concentration.",
  "synonyms": [
    "optically active"
  ],
  "subject": "Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry",
  "see_also": [
    "chiroptic",
    "enantiomer",
    "polarization"
  ],
  "references": [
    "PAC, 1996, 68, 2193. 'Basic terminology of stereochemistry (IUPAC Recommendations 1996)' on page 2212 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199668122193)"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/chemistry/optical-activity/"
}