The Born theory of optical activity in quantum‐mechanical form is simplified with the aid of certain approximations. It leads to a simple expression for the rotatory parameter of an active molecule in terms of the geometrical configuration and the polarizability tensors of its constituent groups. Optical anisotropy of the component groups and inhibited internal rotation are found to play an important role in determining rotatory power. The proposed theory has points of similarity both with the polarizability theories of Gray, de Mallemann, and Boys and also with Kuhn's specialization of Born's classical theory of optical activity. To illustrate its use, the absolute configuration and the specific rotation ofd‐secondary butyl alcohol are calculated.
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