Absorbance Spectroscopy/Reflectance Photometry Flashcards
Differentiate photometers from spectrophotometers
Both instruments measure light intensity, but they isolate wavelengths in incident light in different ways. Photometers use coloured filters to isolate a specific range of wavelengths, whereas spectrophotometers use “devices” (prisms, diffraction grating) to split the incident light into a spectrum. The specific wavelengths are angled in such a way as to isolate them for use during analysis.
List the basic components of a spectrophotometer
Light source
Collimator
Monochromator
Wavelength Selector
Sample Solution vessel (cuvette)
Detector
Read out display
List ideal properties of a light source
Provide high-intensity stable radiation at the wavelength of interest
Ideally able to provide a constant intensity
List common visible light sources
Tungsten Filament
Quartz Haliade
LED
LASER
Discuss how a tungsten filament lamp produces light
A tungsten filament is encased with a glass bulb, as the filament is heated it releases energy in the form of light. “Output is a function of filament temperature”. Most of the output is released as IR radiation which is perceived as heat. Heat evaporates the filament, causing tungsten to deposit on the glass, turning it black.
Discuss how a quartz halide lamp produces light
AKA tungsten-halogen lamp. It is a tungsten filament encased in a quartz bulb that is filled with halogen gas (inert). As the filament is heated it produced light and evaporates the filament, the halogen gas causes the tungsten to deposit back onto the filament.
Describe the emission spectrum of a tungsten filament lamp
Tungsten filament lamps emit a continuous nonlinear spectrum, most output is in the IR region (we perceive it as heat).
Define LED
Light Emitting Diode
Discuss how an LED produces light
A semiconductive material is used, and the LED is given two legs. Short leg = cathode, long leg = anode. Electrons flow through the semiconductive material (diode) from the anode to the cathode, releasing photons.
Define LASER
Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission Radiation.
Discuss how a LASER produces light
A flash tube is held within a mirrored cylindrical compartment filled with gas. The flash bulb will emit high-intensity light, and the electrons within the gas will absorb the light energy. Once the electrons move from their excited state to their ground state and emit the light that they absorbed. This emitted light is extremely intense and can be monochromatic.
List common UV light sources
Deuterium Lamp
Xenon Arc Lamp
Mercury Vapour Lamp
Identify light sources that produce a continuous emission spectrum
Tungsten Filament
Quartz Haliade
LED
LASER
Deuterium Lamp
Xenon Arc Lamp
Identify light sources that produce a non-continuous emission spectrum
Mercury Vapour Lamp
Define bandwidth (bandpass)
Measured in units of frequency (Hz) it refers to the range of frequencies in a signal. (range of light wavelengths transmitted). As bandwidth increases, more wavelengths are transmitted.
Calculate the wavelengths transmitted by a filter when given the nominal wavelength and bandpass
Divide the bandpass by 2, then add and subtract that number from the wavelength.
Bandpass = 10. Wavelength = 40.
10/2 = 5. 40+5=45, 40-5=35.
Wavelengths transmitted are 35-45nm.
Discuss how absorption filters work
These are made of coloured glass or plastic and are designed to transmit certain wavelengths, the rest of the wavelengths are absorbed by the filter. The colour of the filter corresponds to the colour of the visible light it will transmit.
Discuss how interference filters work
These are formed of multiple very thin layers of material. The thickness of the layer determines which wavelengths are transmitted. Wavelengths that aren’t designed to transmit through the filter are removed by destructive interference. (competing wavelengths that cancel each other out).
Describe Bandpass filters
Transmit a specific range of wavelengths. Used to select desired wavelengths for analysis.
Describe Shortpass filters
shortpass = Cut-off wavelength.
Transmit shorter wavelengths
Describe longpass filters
Longpass = Cut-on wavelengths
Transmit longer wavelengths
Describe Dichroic filters
Certain wavelengths are transmitted, and the rest are reflected.
Describe neutral density filters
Used to reduce light intensity across a wide range of wavelengths, not to isolate a specific range of wavelengths.
List two types of monochromators
Prisms
Diffraction Gratings
Discuss how a prism splits white light
Uses refraction to disperse white light into a continuous spectrum of monochromatic light. Short (blue) wavelengths are bent the most, and long (red) are bent the most.
Discuss how a diffraction grating works
Uses diffraction to produce a spectrum of monochromatic light from white light. They are a series of parallel lines etched onto a surface, when white light hits the etchings it is diffracted. The spectrum will have white light emitted from the centre, surrounded by the “first-order rainbows”, which are surrounded by the “second-order rainbow”.
First-order rainbows are more intense than second.
Two types:
Transmission grating: light is passed through the grating to produce a spectrum.
Reflection grating: Material is reflected, so the spectrum is produced by the reflection of the incident light.