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Spectrophotometers
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.
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