Question

What is spectrophotometer? What are its four primary components.Define them and what are the advantages of using double beam spectrophotometer.

Answer 1

A spectrophotometer is a device that precisely measures electromagnetic energy at specific wavelengths of lights. It uses the characteristics of light and energy to identify colors and determine how much of each color is present in a ray of light.

• Four primary/basic components of Spectrophotometer includes -

      1) A light source -Device whose function is to produce visible/non-visible            radiant energy. Example - Deuterium Lamp for measurement in UV ?                range.

 

     2)Beam Splitter- Its main function is to split the single beam of light                    coming from the light source into two beams.

 

    3)A monochromator- It enables the spectral isolation of a wavelength                   from the beam of a source of light.

 

    4) A Detector- A device that converts an amount of radiation into some                 other measurable phenomenon.

• Benefits of using Double beam spectrophotometer -

      1)Sample and reference cells can be read simultaneously.

 

      2)Better design for continuous recording of spectra.

 

     3)It operates more faster.

 

    4)Correction due to fluctuations in stray light , beam intensity variations              and electronic noise are applied in real time.

spectrophotometer is a device that precisely measures electromagnetic energy at specific wavelengths of lights. 

Four main components- A light source , Beam splitter , monochromator, detector.

Advantages- operates faster , produce more reproducible results.