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Leonardo Vittorio A.

Rodrigo BSMT-3B

Parts of a Spectrophotometer

Every single-beam spectrophotometer needs seven crucial parts in order to function. The
following lists each part in the order that they appear in the process of running a
spectrophotometer reading.


Light Source: emits white light (all frequencies). The light source transmits white light, which
contains all frequencies in the visible light spectrum. Usually the light source is just a normal
light bulb. For special wavelength readings, the light source may be a UV bulb or some other
wavelength.

Monochromator: selects one frequency (or color) of light. The word monochromator literally
means one color (mono-chrom) in Latin. This part of the spectrophotometer filters out all other
wavelengths except for the one specified by the user.

Aperture: directs light. The aperture is a small hole that directs the specified wavelength to a
part of the sample. Some spectrophotometers have adjustable apertures in order to capture
absorbance at different spatial parts of the sample. The aperture guarantees that each sample
reading directs at the same place in the sample, which eliminates error in uneven sample
distributions.

Cuvette: holding cell for sample. Is usually plastic but may be made of other materials. Cuvette
volume capacities range from 1.5-3 ml and sizes also vary. Most spectrophotometers allow for
multiple cuvettes, but cuvettes must be the same size.




Sample: solution user desires to quantify. A sample contains any liquid solution which the user
chooses to quantify. Liquid solutions usually contain dye, and the resulting absorbance values
correspond to the amount of dye (and therefore product to which dye attaches) in the solution.
Some spectrophotometers are able to quantify solid or gas mixtures, but are much more
expensive and use a different process.


Photoresistor: detects transmittance intensity of light. The photoresistor is a very sensitive
electrical device that detects the intensity of light that is being transmitted through the sample.
The photoresistor measures in Ohms, the units of resistance. However, the spectrophotometer
contains a processing system that converts resistance values to the absorbance of light.

Output Device: displays absorbance values for the user. A computer screen that has a separating
operating system from the spectrophotometer usually functions as the output device. Both the
spectrophotometer and the computer internally connect, and the information output from the
spectrophotometer saves directly on the computer. However, some spectrophotometers have an
imbedded screen on which the output displays.

Diffraction grating is an optical component with a periodic structure, which splits and diffracts
light into several beams travelling in different directions. The directions of these beams depend
on the spacing of the grating and the wavelength of the light so that the grating acts as the
dispersive element. Because of this, gratings are commonly used in monochromators and
spectrometers.

Prism is a transparent optical element with flat, polished surfaces that refract light. At least two
of the flat surfaces must have an angle between them. The exact angles between the surfaces
depend on the application. The traditional geometrical shape is that of a triangular prism with a
triangular base and rectangular sides, and in colloquial use "prism" usually refers to this type.
Some types of optical prism are not in fact in the shape of geometric prisms. Prisms can be made
from any material that is transparent to the wavelengths for which they are designed. Typical
materials include glass, plastic and fluorite.

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