Spectroscopy

Spectroscopy is the study of the interaction between matter and electromagnetic radiation as a function of the wavelength or frequency of the radiation. In simpler terms, spectroscopy is the precise study of color as generalized from visible light to all bands of the electromagnetic spectrum.

History[edit | edit source]

Spectroscopy originated through the study of visible light dispersed according to its wavelength, by a prism. Later the concept was expanded greatly to include any interaction with radiative energy as a function of its wavelength or frequency. Spectroscopic data is often represented by an emission spectrum, a plot of the response of interest as a function of wavelength or frequency.

Types of Spectroscopy[edit | edit source]

There are many types of spectroscopy which can be classified based on the physical quantity that is measured or the type of radiation-matter interaction that is exploited. Some of the types include Absorption spectroscopy, Emission spectroscopy, Reflection spectroscopy, Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy.

Applications[edit | edit source]

Spectroscopy is used in physical and analytical chemistry because atoms and molecules have unique spectra. As a result, these spectra can be used to detect, identify and quantify information about the atoms and molecules. Spectroscopy is also used in astronomy and remote sensing on earth.

References[edit | edit source]

Spectroscopy Resources
Need Help Finding a Doctor? Need help finding a doctor or specialist anywhere in the world? Explore our world directory. WikiMD's DocFinder can assist you in locating millions of physicians.	Medical Knowledge Access the latest research - Most recent articles Ongoing trials.