Fluorimetry

Fluorimetry is a type of spectroscopy that measures the intensity of fluorescence light emitted by a sample when it is exposed to a specific intensity of light. It is a highly sensitive and selective analytical tool, often used in biochemistry and medicine for diagnosing diseases, studying biological systems, and detecting impurities in materials.

Principle

Fluorimetry is based on the principle of fluorescence, a phenomenon where certain substances absorb light at a specific wavelength and then re-emit light at a longer wavelength. The difference in energy between the absorbed and emitted light is known as the Stokes shift. The intensity of the emitted light is directly proportional to the concentration of the fluorescent substance in the sample, allowing for quantitative analysis.

Procedure

A typical fluorimetry procedure involves the following steps:

1. The sample is placed in a cuvette and exposed to light of a specific wavelength.
2. The sample absorbs the light and becomes excited.
3. The excited sample emits light at a longer wavelength.
4. The intensity of the emitted light is measured by a detector.

The procedure can be performed using a fluorimeter, a specialized instrument that includes a light source, a sample holder, and a detector.

Applications

Fluorimetry has a wide range of applications in various fields:

• In biochemistry, it is used to study the structure and function of biomolecules.
• In medicine, it is used for diagnosing diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer's disease.
• In environmental science, it is used for detecting pollutants in water and air.
• In material science, it is used for identifying impurities in materials.

See also

• Spectroscopy
• Fluorescence
• Fluorimeter