Spectrophotometer

From WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

Spectrophotometer

A spectrophotometer is a scientific instrument used to measure the light in a given range of wavelengths. It is commonly used in physical chemistry laboratories for the quantification of different substances usually present in a solution.

History[edit | edit source]

The first spectrophotometer was created in the late 1940s by Arnold O. Beckman. It was designed to help scientists and researchers measure the amount of ultraviolet and visible light absorbed by a substance.

Principle[edit | edit source]

The basic principle of a spectrophotometer involves the measurement of light intensity. The device measures the intensity of light before and after its interaction with a sample. The difference in these two values is used to calculate the absorbance of the sample.

Types[edit | edit source]

There are several types of spectrophotometers, including single-beam spectrophotometer, double-beam spectrophotometer, array spectrophotometer, and infrared spectrophotometer.

Applications[edit | edit source]

Spectrophotometers are used in various fields such as chemistry, physics, biochemistry, molecular biology, and clinical applications. They are essential tools in these fields for the study of chemical substances, biological samples, and even in the diagnosis of diseases.

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

Spectrophotometer Resources

Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD