Introduction to Spectroscopy

Claudia Sanchez


TA: Kena Senegal















Introduction: In this lab we used the concept of spectroscopy, which relates to the
distribution of an object's light into its color; as well as visible spectrum, which is the
portion of the spectrum that can be seen by the naked eye. The purpose to this lab was to
see how a compounds spectroscopy could be calculated using logger pro. [1]

Experimental:
Part 1: We first obtained a cuvette of .10M for each solution Co(NO3)2, Cu (NO3)2,
Ni(NO3)2 & K2CrO4, we then recorded the color of each. We placed he cuvettes into
the spectrometer and viewed its transmittance spectrum. After, we determine the
wavelength range for where transmittance is highest and repeated this for all of the
solutions. [1]
Part 2: We prepared dilute solutions to find the effect of the concentration on absorbance,
we obtained .10 M Cu(NO3)2 and combined it with .10 M Cu(NO3)2 to generate .050
M, .025 M, .015 M and .010 M solutions of the compound. We noted the systematic
differences in appearance of the compound solutions, placed the cuvettes into
spectrometer to see the absorbance reading and the wavelength max absorbance and
graphed it.[1]
Part 3: We used graphical interpolation to measure the absorbance of an unknown
concentration and used the calibration curve to measure its absorbance.
Part 4: A cuvette was filled about 2/3 full with 1.0 X 10^-3 M Fe(NO3)3 and filled a
second cuvette 2/3 with 5.0X10^-3 M KSCN and try to see what we expected the
absorbance spectrum to look like. [1]
Part 5: We observed the color produced by each of the three substances by removing the
probe and placing the tip in the Bunsen burner flame and looked at each of the flames. [1]


Results:
Part 1: [2]

Compound & Color Maximum % Transmittance Range
Red Co(NO3)2 386.6 384.8
Yellow K3CrO4 650 900
Blue Cu(NO3) 388 542
Green Ni(NO3)2 461 - 581

Compound & Color Absorbance Wavelength
Red Co(NO3)2 512.7nm
Yellow K3CrO4 434.6nm
Blue Cu(NO3) 804.3nm
Green Ni(NO3)2 398.4nm





Part 2: [2]

Part 3: 13.189x-.013 = .382
Concentration = .03M [2]

Part 4: We expected to be in the blue/purple area, which is in the .300 ranges
Actual Absorbance: .891 [2]

Part 5: [2]

Chemical Flame Color
NaCl Orange
LiCl Red
CuCl2 Green



Discussion: In the experiment we used strategies to determine the absorbance,
wavelength and transmittance. Some of those strategies included using a flame test as
well as the logger pro. [1] Our transmittance range and well as the absorbance
wavelength for the compounds we used corresponded well our predictions based on the
color, which met our goals. [2] When we measure absorbance calculations of the
different concentrations it showed that the more concentrated the solution is, the higher
its absorbance will be higher. [3] To determined the absorbance of the unknown
compound by plugging in the absorbance for x, which gave us a concentration of .03M,
which matches the accepted value of .025-.03M. [3] For part 4 we had two clear solutions
therefore we expected the mixture to have 100% transmittance and no absorbance and to
be represented by a flat line spectrum. [3] When mixed, the two solutions created an
orange solution, which we expected to have an absorbance in the .300 ranges but the
actual absorbance was of .891. [3] I believe significance of the flame test results was to
use the color that was shown to identify the metal that is present in the compound. Our
goal for part two was met since the concentrations matched the average absorbance and
the absorbance decreased as the concentration decreased which was what we expected.
Likewise, our goals for part three were also met since we got a concentration value of
.03M, which is close to the accepted value of .025-.03M. [3] A major source of error
could have been not having the concentration of the solution while calculating the
absorbance, which could cause it to change in value. A potential impact of the
experimental error could be calculating the wring absorbance for the unknown compound
for part two since it could lead to identifying the wrong compound.
Concentration Absorbance
.10 M 1.306
.050 M .654
.025 M .304
.015 M .162
.010 M .147

Conclusion: The overall experimental goal for this lab was to be able to calculate and
measure absorbance and transmittance of a compound using spectroscopy. To reach this
goal we used the software logger pro as well as a flame test to calculate our solutions and
determine their color. Our most significant experimental findings were that the
absorbance of a solution decreases and its concentration decreases and also that when two
clear solutions are mixed they could produce a color that could have a great absorbance.
[2]

References:

[1] "Chemistry 130 Laboratory: Introduction of Spectroscopy of Air." Chemistry 130
Laboratory.
Web. 24Apr2014
[2] Sanchez, Maria C Lab #10: Introduction to Spectroscopy. 24 Apr. 2014. Raw data. The
University of Kansas, Lawrence.

[3] Senegal, Kena Calculations for Introduction of Spectroscopy Lab. Lab handout