Britannica AI Icon

Quick Summary

A spectrophotometer is an instrument used to measure the intensity of light transmitted or reflected by a substance as a function of wavelength. This allows for the analysis of electromagnetic radiation absorbed, scattered, or emitted by a substance.12

Spectrophotometers are part of spectral methods in chemical analysis. They typically consist of a radiation source, a cell to hold the sample, and a detector to measure radiation intensity. By measuring how much radiation is absorbed at specific wavelengths, scientists can identify substances and determine their concentrations. This technique is valuable for analyzing both colorless substances and complex organic compounds.21

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.