Physic Labs

Physical chemistry

Electronic spectroscopy

Electronic spectroscopy measures transitions between electronic states and quantifies absorption with Beer–Lambert law.

A photon of suitable energy promotes an electronic transition. Vibrational structure often overlays an electronic band; intensity depends on transition probability and environment.

Absorption and concentration

Electronic spectroscopy measures transitions between electronic states and quantifies absorption with Beer–Lambert law.

Definition: Core definition

Absorbance A is the base-10 logarithm of incident-to-transmitted intensity; dilute solutions approximately obey Beer–Lambert.

A=εclA=\varepsilon c l

Example: Worked example

Apply the model to a simple case: With ε in L mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹, c in mol L⁻¹ and l in cm, doubling concentration in the linear range doubles A.

Solution

With ε in L mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹, c in mol L⁻¹ and l in cm, doubling concentration in the linear range doubles A.

Absorbance A is the base-10 logarithm of incident-to-transmitted intensity; dilute solutions approximately obey Beer–Lambert.

Absorption and concentration
QuantityModel / rule
Key relationElectronic spectroscopy measures transitions between electronic states and quantifies absorption with Beer–Lambert law.
Meaning / useWith ε in L mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹, c in mol L⁻¹ and l in cm, doubling concentration in the linear range doubles A.

In the linear range, how does absorbance A change when concentration doubles?

Which statement best matches the model described?

References

  1. Nicholas J. Turro et al. (2010). Modern Molecular Photochemistry