Question

What are some uses of UV/visible spectroscopy?

Answer 1

Spectroscopy is defined as a branch of science which deals with the study of interaction between matter and light source. The source of light used in this study is generally known as electromagnetic radiation which includes ultraviolet rays, visible radiation, infrared radiation and many more.

Complete answer:
The principle of spectroscopy is defined as the measurement and interpretation of radiation absorbed by matter or emitted by matter. The matter here may be an atom, molecule or even an ion which flows from one energy state to another energy state when radiation falls over them.
UV/visible spectroscopy comes under the category of absorption spectroscopy because in this spectroscopy the amount of light absorbed by matter is considered.
There are various use of UV/visible spectroscopy-
Presence of impurity in the sample is easily detected with the help of UV/visible spectroscopy. The additional material in the sample produces extra peaks in the graph which when compared with standard graph differentiate it from pure sample.
Prediction of structure of any compound is done with the help of UV/visible spectroscopy.
UV/visible spectroscopy help in identifying the presence of unsaturation or any hetero atom in the compound.
Quantity of the desired compound in any sample is also determined by UV/visible spectroscopy with the help of Beer-Lambert’s law.
Chemical kinetics of any reaction is also determined with the help of UV/visible spectroscopy.
Identification of different functional groups like $\left( {CO,OH,NH,COOH} \right)$ is also possible with the help of UV/visible spectroscopy.
UV/visible spectroscopy also helps in identifying the molecular weight of the unknown sample.

Note:
Beer-Lambert’s governs the UV/visible spectroscopy, it relates the mathematical relationship between the intensity of light absorbed with path length and concentration of sample taken. Spectrophotometer is an instrument which is used in determining the changes in light in UV/visible spectroscopy.