optically active crystal (english) - meaning, definition, translation, pronunciation

Part of Speech

Noun

Phonetic Transcription

/ˈɒptɪkli ˈæktɪv ˈkrɪstl/

Meaning and Usage

An optically active crystal is a type of crystal that can rotate the plane of polarized light. This optical activity is due to the crystal's structure and the arrangement of its molecules. Optically active crystals are significant in fields like chemistry and materials science, particularly in the study of chiral compounds.

The term is used mainly in scientific literature and is less common in everyday oral speech. It is typically encountered in the context of discussing optical phenomena, crystal structures, or molecule interactions.

Example Sentences

1. The optically active crystal demonstrated a significant rotation of polarized light when subjected to the experiment.

El cristal ópticamente activo demostró una rotación significativa de la luz polarizada cuando fue sometido al experimento.

1. Researchers synthesized a new optically active crystal that may have applications in laser technology.

Los investigadores sintetizaron un nuevo cristal ópticamente activo que podría tener aplicaciones en la tecnología láser.

1. The properties of the optically active crystal were thoroughly analyzed using various spectroscopic techniques.

Las propiedades del cristal ópticamente activo fueron analizadas a fondo utilizando diversas técnicas espectroscópicas.

Idiomatic Expressions

The phrase "optically active crystal" does not commonly appear in idiomatic expressions. However, here are some relevant phrases that involve terms related to optics and crystals:

1. "Break the crystal": This expression can refer to revealing or exposing the truth about something that was previously hidden or murky.

A veces hay que romper el cristal para ver la realidad de la situación. (Sometimes you have to break the crystal to see the reality of the situation.)

1. "Crystal clear": This idiom refers to something that is easily understandable or clear, often used to describe an explanation or a statement.

El profesor hizo la lección cristalina para que todos pudieran entenderla fácilmente. (The teacher made the lesson crystal clear so everyone could easily understand it.)

1. "Through a crystal ball": This phrase is used to indicate predicting the future, or making an educated guess about what will happen.

Es difícil ver el futuro a través de una bola de cristal en este momento. (It's hard to see the future through a crystal ball at this time.)

Etymology

The term "optically" comes from the Greek word "optikos," meaning "of sight," while "active" derives from the Latin word "activus," meaning "action" or "effect." The word "crystal" originates from the Greek word "krustallos," which means "frozen" or "ice," historically used to describe transparent minerals or ice-like substances.

Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms: - Polarizing crystal - Chiral crystal - Light-rotating crystal

Antonyms: - Non-polarizing crystal - Achiral crystal - Light-inert crystal

This comprehensive overview of "optically active crystal" provides key details about its usage, meaning, and context in the English language, along with relevant examples and expressions.