Abstract
A simple way of determining the helix screw sense of a cholesteric phase using the Grandjean-Cano method is described. The helix pitch as well as its sense is investigated for ten cholesteric phases, induced by mesogenic chiral com­pounds in the nematic isomere mixture of 4-methoxy-4′-n-butylazoxybenzene (Nematic Phase 4, Merck). For the chiral compounds with nematic-like molecular structure it is found that the screw sense alternates with the number of bonds between the chiral centre and the ring system.