WOLFRAM|DEMONSTRATIONS PROJECT

Beer's Law

​
wavelength (nm)
400
concentration (M)
0.00005
absorptivity coefficient ε: 261.84
-1
M
-1
cm
absorbance: 0.0131
​
measured absorptivity coefficient ε: 1093.3
-1
M
-1
cm
percent error: 317.53%
2
R
= 0.80367
Spectroscopy, the study of the interaction of matter with electromagnetic radiation, can be used for qualitative and quantitative analysis. This Demonstration shows the importance of choosing the appropriate wavelength at which to analyze a hypothetical sample solution containing an analyte in a noninteracting solvent. Additionally, the effects of solution concentration can be explored using Beer’s law:
A=εlc
, where 
A
is absorbance, ε is the molar absorbtivity (in L
-1
mol
 
-1
cm
),
l
is the path length of the sample (in cm) and
c
is the concentration of the compound in solution (in mol
-1
L
).
The first slider changes the wavelength of the radiation. The absorptivity coefficient
ε
changes as a result, which consequently alters the absorbance under the specified conditions. The lower plot shows simulated data, with random associated error. You can use the slider to investigate how to choose the best wavelength to achieve the most accurate and precise experimental measurement of the absorptivity coefficient.
The second slider adjusts the concentration of the sample, to observe the effect of analyte concentration on absorbance for any given wavelength.
This Demonstration uses data for a hypothetical situation; the wavelength of peak absorbance and error values may differ for actual analytes and experimental trials.