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9 - Spectrophotometry

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 June 2012

Peter White
Affiliation:
University of Sheffield
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Summary

And when we consider that other theory of the natural philosophers, that all other earthly hues – every stately or lovely emblazoning – the sweet tinges of skies and woods; yea, and the gilded velvets of butterflies, and the butterfly cheeks of young girls; all these are but subtile deceits, not actually inherent in substances, but only laid on from without; so that all deified Nature absolutely paints like the harlot, whose allurements cover nothing but the charnel-house within; and when we proceed further, and consider that the mystical cosmetic which produces every one of her hues, the great principle of light, for ever remains white or colorless in itself, and if operating without medium upon matter, would touch all objects, even tulips and roses, with its own blank tinge –

Herman Melville

Three commonplace observations are the basis of this subject:

  1. (1) A stronger solution of a coloured substance looks darker than does a weaker solution of that substance.

  2. (2) A thin layer of a coloured solution is paler than a thicker layer of the same solution.

  3. (3) Different substances can give solutions of different colours.

Use of the spectrophotometer

These observations are made quantitative by using a spectrophotometer. In this machine a beam of light from an electric bulb (wavelengths about 350 to 800 nm) or from a source of UV (wavelengths about 220 to 350 nm) passes through a solution.

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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2010

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  • Spectrophotometry
  • Peter White, University of Sheffield
  • Book: Data-Handling in Biomedical Science
  • Online publication: 05 June 2012
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511844799.011
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  • Spectrophotometry
  • Peter White, University of Sheffield
  • Book: Data-Handling in Biomedical Science
  • Online publication: 05 June 2012
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511844799.011
Available formats
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Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Spectrophotometry
  • Peter White, University of Sheffield
  • Book: Data-Handling in Biomedical Science
  • Online publication: 05 June 2012
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511844799.011
Available formats
×