Spectrophotometry

Spectrophotometry (pronunciation: /ˌspɛktroʊfəˈtɒmɪtri/) is a quantitative method used in laboratory settings to measure the amount of light that a chemical substance absorbs. The technique is widely used in fields such as chemistry, physics, biochemistry, and molecular biology.

Etymology

The term "spectrophotometry" comes from the Latin word spectrum, meaning "appearance" or "apparition", and the Greek word metron, meaning "measure".

Method

Spectrophotometry involves the use of a spectrophotometer. A spectrophotometer is a photometer (a device for measuring light intensity) that can measure intensity as a function of the color, or more specifically, the wavelength of light.

Applications

Spectrophotometry is used in many areas of science and industry, including pharmaceuticals, forensics, and environmental monitoring. It is also used in the medical field for the analysis of blood samples, in the food industry for quality control, and in the chemical industry for the analysis of chemical reactions.

Related Terms

Absorbance: The measure of the quantity of light absorbed by a solution.
Transmittance: The measure of the amount of light that passes through a sample.
Wavelength: The distance between successive crests of a wave, especially points in a sound wave or electromagnetic wave.

External links

Medical encyclopedia article on Spectrophotometry
Wikipedia's article - Spectrophotometry

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Spectrophotometry