Magneto-Optic Rotation
H2O2 and its solutions are not optically active and there is no rotation of the plane of polarization on passing light through them. When placed in a magnetic field, however, rotation of the plane does occur - termed the Faraday effect, or magneto-optic rotation. This is described by the equation: α = V l H cos θ0 where V is the Verdet constant determined from the table below.
| H2O2 Conc.wt.% |
Refractive Index, η |
Verdet Constant, V, min/gauss cm x 103 |
| 5893 |
5780 |
5461 |
4358 |
| 0.0 |
1.333 |
13.09 |
13.64 |
15.4 |
25.21 |
| 18.1 |
1.3447 |
12.91 |
13.38 |
15.13 |
25 |
| 38.1 |
1.3585 |
12.69 |
13.15 |
14.86 |
24.47 |
| 50.9 |
1.368 |
12.53 |
12.98 |
14.6 |
24.22 |
| 62 |
1.3766 |
12.3 |
12.8 |
14.43 |
24.11 |
| 78.5 |
1.3899 |
11.98 |
12.45 |
14.07 |
23.45 |
| 96 |
1.4052 |
11.6 |
12.03 |
13.64 |
22.7 |
| 100 |
1.4112 |
11.48 |
11.9 |
13.32 |
22.65 |
Ref: P.A. Giguere and H. Feeny, Can. J. Res., 21A:69 (1943)