Compact Spectrometers and Spectrophotometers
Did You Know?
Did you know Spectroscopy, the umbrella term for Spectrophotometry studies, is used all around you? The benefits of spectrophotometry studies are extremely broad, affecting a vast range of unexpected projects that constantly improve the quality of everyday life. Scientists use spectrophotometry technology to identify diseases and develop cancer treatments, but the technology is also used for simple tasks like matching paint colors when you decide to repaint your bedroom. The devices are used in numerous applied sciences, from biomedical sciences to space exploration, but they are most commonly used in fields involving chemistry, agriculture, molecular biology, and environmental studies. Spectroscopy is used to determine the components and characteristics of any sample, so the applications are seemingly endless. Researchers have more recently used spectroscopy for elemental analysis, even on samples from distant planets. So spectrophotometer devices may someday play a role in the discovery of life beyond our home planet. There are several types of spectrophotometers, including UV-visible, infrared, and fluorescence spectrophotometers. UV-visible spectrophotometers are commonly used to measure the absorbance or transmittance of light in the ultraviolet and visible regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Infrared spectrophotometers are used to measure the absorption, reflection, or transmission of infrared radiation by a sample. Fluorescence spectrophotometers are used to measure the emission of light by a sample after it has been excited by a specific wavelength of light.
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Frequently Asked Questions
In simple terms, a spectrophotometer is a device used to measure the intensity of light transmitted, absorbed or reflected from a material at different wavelengths. It works by measuring the amount of light that passes through a sample, and the amount of light that is absorbed by the sample at different wavelengths.
Spectrophotometers measure how much light a sample can absorb or transmit, while spectrometers instead measure the radiated light itself. Spectrophotometers include a spectrometer, but they also incorporate a light source used for sample illumination.
Aside from simply assessing the color of samples, spectrophotometers have common applications in science and medicine. The devices are frequently used in molecular biology to measure the growth of microorganisms and bacteria, playing a large role in disease diagnosis and pathological state changes. They are also used in forensic sciences, hematology, chemistry, and chemical kinetics.
To measure absorbance, a spectrophotometer will shine a beam of light (of a specific wavelength) through a sample and capture the light that reflects back. Based on the light that is transmitted, the device will measure the level of light that the sample can absorb. Spectrophotometers can measure absorbance for just about any sample: metals, plastics, paper, liquids, fabrics, and more.
Spectrophotometers, as described above, will emit a light radiation that will pass through a sample and measure light intensity at different wavelengths. This data can then be used to identify many properties of the sample such as correlated color temperature, chemical structure, chromaticity, absorption/transmission spectra and more.
Your best choice is dependent upon what you will be using it for; you don’t want to pay for a device with features that you may not need. Key features to consider when selecting a spectrophotometer are the wavelength range, resolution, minimum scan time, measuring range, and sensitivity.