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Instrumental Methods - Ultraviolet Spectroscopy - Identifying Compounds.
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Some substances absorb ultraviolet (or visible) light.
The wavelength
of the light which is absorbed
is different for different compounds.
In ultraviolet spectroscopy all of
the different wavelengths
of ultraviolet light are passed through a substance
and the instrument produces an
ultraviolet spectrum
showing peaks where the light has been absorbed.
The compound can be identified by a computer
which compares the shape of the
ultraviolet spectrum
with the spectrum of thousands
of known materials.
The area of the peak shows the concentration of the substance
(how much is present).
Ultraviolet
spectroscopy can
identify compounds such as nitrate in water
and may be used by environmental
agencies
to monitor the quality of river and drinking water.
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