Concentration of Blue Dye in Powerade

Levi Kastner
Date Lab Was Done: 9-1-16
Date Lab Was Due: 9-8-16

Purpose:
The purpose of this lab was to determine the relationship between the concentration of
a solution and the amount of light that is able to be transmitted through the solution. We
used blue Gatorade. During the lab, we found out how light can be used to determine
concentrations of chemical species in solutions.

Introduction:
Spectroscopy is defined as the study of how electromagnetic radiation and
matter interact. It can also be the study of how visible light is distributed by its
wavelength and how much of which wavelengths are absorbed by a substance. You
can use this discipline of study to determine useful information about different
substances. We used a Spectrophotometer to demonstrate Spectroscopy in order to
determine how much light can get through a substance. Basically, you shine a beam of
light into a sample that is in a solution, and then the Spectrophotometer will determine
how much of it(the light) comes out of the other side of the solution. Using the data
obtained, you can compare the amount of light transmitted by the pure solvent to the
amount of light transmitted by the sample dissolved in the solvent. Transmittance
measures how much of the light is transmitted, or goes through, the substance. By
doing this, you can calculate the absorbance. Absorbance is the measure of how much
of a light is taken in by the material or substance it is going through. The
Spectrophotometer we used can tell you both the absorbance and the percent
transmittance.
By using the Spectrophotometer, you can determine the absorbance and
transmittance of a substance and use those two things to determine your concentration.
You can do this by using Beer’s Law. Beer’s Law states that the absorbance of a
solution is directly proportional to the concentration of a chemical. The formula for
Beer’s Law is A=ebc. The “A” in the formula stands for absorbance. The “e” in Beer’s
Law represents the molar absorptivity(units of L, mol^-1, and cm^-1). The “b” stands for
the path length of the sample. It is generally expressed in centimeters. For us it was
1.2(cm). Finally, the “c” stands for the concentration. Once you use the
Spectrophotometer to find your absorbance, you can input it in the Beer’s Law formula
along with your “e” and “b” values to determine “c”, or the concentration of the
substance.
Materials:
● Spectrophotometer(absorbance and transmittance)
● Pipet
● Glass Test Tube(No measuring marks)
● Graduated Cylinder +/-.01mL
● Blue Sports Drink
● Blue Gatorade
● Water

Procedure:
● First, we got the test tube out of the Spectrophotometer. We emptied it.
● Second, we measured 10mL of Gatorade into a graduated cylinder with a pipet.
● Third, we poured the 10mL of Gatorade into the test tube we got out of the
Spectrophotometer.
● Fourth, we inserted the test tube, full of 10mL of Gatorade, into the
Spectrophotometer.
● We then picked a setting, either absorbance or transmittance and took the
measurement of whichever one we picked.
● After we recorded the measurement for either transmittance or absorbance, we
flipped the switch on the Spectrophotometer and got the other measurement.
● We then transferred both pieces of data onto the chart on the board. One for
transmittance and one for absorbance.
● Finally, we cleaned up any mess we made and went back to our desks.
*All data and graphs are attached to the lab.

Post-Lab Questions:
Post-Lab Questions were done on a sheet of notebook paper and are
attached to the lab.

Sources of Error:
1. An easy source of error could be how we rounded our decimals.
2. When we inserted the test tube into the Spectrophotometer, we obviously had to
touch it with our hands and fingers. The fingerprints left behind could have
somehow slightly messed up the reading on the Spectrophotometer, thus
becoming a very possible source of error.
3. The Spectrophotometer we were using may have not been calibrated 100%
accurately, therefore, it could account for some error.
Percent Error for the Gatorade:
Conclusion:
 In conclusion, we found that generally the higher the concentration of a
solution, the harder it was for light to get through it. When the solution is more
concentrated, there is more resistance for the light to go through, therefore, it is
harder for the light to be transmitted through the solution. For example, for the
10/10 dilution(concentration of 1.8x10^-6 M), transmittance is only 53%. The
transmittance for the 1/9(concentration of 1.3x10^-7) dilution was 95%. 95% of
the light got through on the 1/9 dilution compared to only 53% on the 10/10
dilution. The 1/9 dilution is less concentrated than the 10/10 dilution, and more
light was allowed through it; thus proving that, generally, the lower the
concentration, the more light allowed through.
The concentration of the blue Gatorade was 1.15x10^-6 (M). The
transmittance for the blue Gatorade was 67% and the absorbance was 0.18. The
Gatorade pretty much followed our previous trend.