Chapter 8: Spectrophotometry

Question 1:

a. A light including visible wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum

also absorbs and reflects certain colors.
b. The absorbance of light is critical to these molecules’ functions.

Question 2:

a. The spectrophotometer has an absorption spectrum that absorbs any

wavelengths of light, this is why it is important to clean any finger
prints or smudges before placing it in the spectrophotometer.
Table 8.1

Chlorophyll Absorbance
350 1.230
420 .880
460 .724
490 .498
530 .247
570 .214
610 .226
660 .354

Table 8.2

Acetone 10% Absorbance

350 -.018
420 -.006
460 -.008
490 -.009
530 -.007
570 -.006
610 -.007
660 -.007

Question 3:
 a. 490 is the wavelength for COCl₂.
b. I would except a curve of the same shape for another molecule
because they are all light absorbers and reflectors.

Table 8.3
Concentration of Absorbance
Standards
1 -.000

10 .029

20 -.410

30 .774

40 1.120

50 1.370

Table 8.4
Unknown 1: B 1.230

Unknown 2: C .081

Unknown 3: E 1.660

Question 4:

a. The plotted points on my standard curve lie in a straight line.

Question 5:

a. The appropriate blank for determining the absorption of chlorophyll in

a plant extract is a cuvette.
b. The wavelength of 660 is least absorbed by chlorophyll.
c. The wavelength of 490 is most absorbed by chlorophyll.

Table 8.5

Wavelength Absorbance
350 .326
420 .642
460 1.980
490 1.950
530 1.500
570 .288
610 .003
660 -.002

Questions for further thought and study:

1. The absorption spectrum is the fingerprint of the chemical and is

represented as a graph relating absorbance to wavelength. Standard
curve is a graph showing a chemical’s concentration versus its
absorbance of a wavelength of light.
2. A spectrophotometer can be used to determine the concentration of
“colorless” solutes such as salt or sugar- the more solute the higher the
absorbance.