Dictionary definitions
- Enter a word for the dictionary definition.
optically active
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Optically \Op"tic*al*ly\, adv.
1. By optics or sight.
[1913 Webster]
2. With reference to optics.
[1913 Webster]
Optically active, Optically inactive (Chem. Physics),
terms used of certain isomeric substances which, while
identical with each other in other respects, differ in
this, viz., that they do or do not produce right-handed or
left-handed circular polarization of light. See {optical
activity}.
Optically positive, Optically negative. See under
Refraction.
[1913 Webster]
.
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
optical activity \optical activity\ n. (Chem.) the ability of a chemical compound to rotate the plane of plane-polarized light. This is found only in chemicals whose molecular structure does not have a plane of symmetry, and is common in biochemical compounds. -- optically active adj. [PJC]
