Department of Chemistry

Analytical Spectroscopy Laboratory

Perkin Elmer 241MC Polarimeter

Return to ASL Home Page

This digital readout instrument can measure the optical rotation of solutions over the entire range from 250 - 650 nm. Accuracy is specified at +/- 0.002 degrees for rotations < 1 degree and +/- 0.2% for rotations > 1 degree. Various cells are available from Perkin Elmer and other suppliers to meet your needs.

A Fisher circulator is attached to allow thermostatting of your solutions.  The bottom picture shows the cell in the sample compartment with the circulator solution flowing through it.

Click on pictures to enlarge

4 different lamps are available.

Na, for the traditional 589 nm yellow line.

Hg, for the various mercury wavelengths (253.6, 265.3, 280.3, 289.4, 296.8, 3002.2, 312.6, 313.2, 334.1, 365.0, 365.5, 366.3, 404.7, 407.8, 434.8, 435.8, 546.1, 577.0, and 579.1 nm.

D₂, for measurements at any wavelength between 250 - 420 nm. (Be sure your cell has quartz windows for the short UV wavelengths.)

W, (i.e. a projector light bulb), for measurements at any wavelength between 350 - 650 nm. (Cells with glass windows will work over this range.)