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optical activity
This term is a specialized technical expression used primarily in chemistry and physics to describe a specific property of chiral molecules. It refers to the physical phenomenon where a substance rotates polarized light, a characteristic used to distinguish between enantiomers of the same chemical compound.
As a technical term describing a physical property, it is treated as an uncountable noun. It does not have a plural form in standard scientific usage, as it refers to the general capacity of a substance rather than individual instances of activity.
Meanings
Examples
The sample showed no optical activity because it was a racemic mixture.
I need to check the optical activity of this isomer before proceeding.
The loss of optical activity indicates that the substance has racemized.
We can determine the purity of the enantiomer by measuring its optical activity.
The researcher noted a significant change in the optical activity of the solution.
Wait, why is there no optical activity in this chiral molecule?
Optical activity is a key characteristic of many organic molecules.