Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Properties of Enantiomers and Optical Activity02:24

Properties of Enantiomers and Optical Activity

It is essential to understand the difference between chiral and achiral interactions and the implications thereof in optical activity and their applications. Just as our feet, which are chiral, interact uniquely with chiral objects, such as a pair of shoes, but identically with achiral socks, enantiomers of a molecule exhibit different properties only when they interact with other chiral media. An example of a significant implication from this facet is the phenomenon known as optical activity,...
Raman Spectroscopy: Overview01:20

Raman Spectroscopy: Overview

The underlying principle of Raman spectroscopy is based on the interaction between light and matter, specifically molecules' inelastic scattering of photons. When a monochromatic beam of light, typically from a laser source, interacts with a sample, most scattered light has the same frequency as the incident light. This is known as Rayleigh scattering.
However, a small fraction of the scattered light exhibits a frequency shift due to the exchange of energy between the incident photons and the...
Raman Spectroscopy Instrumentation: Overview01:26

Raman Spectroscopy Instrumentation: Overview

A conventional Raman spectrophotometer includes a laser source, a sample holding system, a wavelength selector, and a detector.
The monochromatic laser source, typically using visible or near-infrared radiation, generates a highly focused beam of light. This light interacts with the molecules of the sample, scattering some of the light. Liquid and gaseous samples are usually tested in ordinary glass capillaries, while solids can be analyzed as powders packed in capillaries or as potassium...
Prochirality02:05

Prochirality

The concept of prochirality leads to the nomenclature of the individual faces of a molecule and plays a crucial role in the enantioselective reaction. It is a concept where two or more achiral molecules react to produce chiral products. A typical process is the reaction of an achiral ketone to generate a chiral alcohol. Here, the achiral reactant reacts with an achiral reducing agent, sodium borohydride, to generate an equimolar mixture of the chiral enantiomers of the product. For example, an...
Chirality in Nature02:30

Chirality in Nature

Chirality is the most intriguing yet essential facet of nature, governing life’s biochemical processes and precision. It can be observed from a snail shell pattern in a macroscopic world to an amino acid, the minutest building block of life. Most of the snails around the world have right-coiled shells because of the intrinsic chirality in their genes. All the amino acids present in the human body exist in an enantiomerically pure state, except for glycine - the sole achiral amino acid. The...
Measuring Reaction Rates03:09

Measuring Reaction Rates

Polarimetry finds application in chemical kinetics to measure the concentration and reaction kinetics of optically active substances during a chemical reaction. Optically active substances have the capability of rotating the plane of polarization of linearly polarized light passing through them—a feature called optical rotation. Optical activity is attributed to the molecular structure of substances. Normal monochromatic light is unpolarized and possesses oscillations of the electrical field in...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Measurement of Raman Optical Activity with High-Frequency Polarization Modulation.

The journal of physical chemistry. A·2021
Same author

Light-emitting coaxial nanofibers.

ACS nano·2011
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 28, 2026

Coulomb Explosion Imaging as a Tool to Distinguish Between Stereoisomers
08:51

Coulomb Explosion Imaging as a Tool to Distinguish Between Stereoisomers

Published on: August 18, 2017

Raman Optical Activity (ROA) as an Emerging Standard in Molecular Chirality Measurements - A Perspective.

Carin R Lightner1

  • 1Enantios AG, Räffelstrasse 24, CH-8045 Zurich. clightner@enantios.com.

Chimia
|June 26, 2026
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Raman Optical Activity (ROA) is a powerful tool for analyzing molecular chirality in solutions. This technique offers unique insights complementary to other methods in chemical and pharmaceutical research.

Keywords:
ChiralityChiroptical spectroscopyRaman optical activity

More Related Videos

A Micropatterning Assay for Measuring Cell Chirality
08:07

A Micropatterning Assay for Measuring Cell Chirality

Published on: March 11, 2022

Multiplex Chemical Imaging Based on Broadband Stimulated Raman Scattering Microscopy
09:57

Multiplex Chemical Imaging Based on Broadband Stimulated Raman Scattering Microscopy

Published on: July 25, 2022

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 28, 2026

Coulomb Explosion Imaging as a Tool to Distinguish Between Stereoisomers
08:51

Coulomb Explosion Imaging as a Tool to Distinguish Between Stereoisomers

Published on: August 18, 2017

A Micropatterning Assay for Measuring Cell Chirality
08:07

A Micropatterning Assay for Measuring Cell Chirality

Published on: March 11, 2022

Multiplex Chemical Imaging Based on Broadband Stimulated Raman Scattering Microscopy
09:57

Multiplex Chemical Imaging Based on Broadband Stimulated Raman Scattering Microscopy

Published on: July 25, 2022

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Spectroscopy
  • Chiroptical Methods
  • Analytical Chemistry

Background:

  • Raman Optical Activity (ROA) is an emerging spectroscopic technique.
  • It provides information on molecular chirality.
  • ROA complements existing chiroptical and crystallographic methods.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight recent advancements in ROA.
  • To discuss practical considerations for ROA implementation.
  • To explore future opportunities for ROA applications.

Main Methods:

  • Spectroscopic analysis
  • Chirality characterization
  • Molecular probing in solution

Main Results:

  • ROA is effective for characterizing molecular chirality.
  • ROA can analyze molecules in various solutions.
  • It is applicable across diverse chemical classes.

Conclusions:

  • ROA is a valuable and versatile analytical tool.
  • Its relevance is growing in chemical and pharmaceutical research.
  • Further developments promise expanded applications.