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If the substance does not absorb any light, it appears white (all light is
reflected) or colorless (all light is transmitted). A solution appears a
certain color due to the absorbance and transmittance of visible light.
For example, a blue solution appears blue because it is absorbing all of
the colors except blue.
BACKGROUND
Materials Needed:
Spectrophotometer
A cuvette/cuvette rack
Viewing the Visible Spectrum
Procedure (Best results are obtained by doing this experiment in a dimly lit room)
Cut or rub one end of the piece of chalk to produce a 45o angle.
Place the piece of chalk in a cuvette with the angle end directed up.
Set the wavelength of the spectrophotometer to 425 nm. Be sure the filter switch is
set to the left.
Place the cuvette in the spectrophotometer so the angle of the chalk faces to the right
of the spectrophotometer.
Open the light slit by turning the transmittance adjustment knob (right knob)
clockwise.
Look into the sample compartment and record on the data sheet the color of the light
striking the chalk.
Repeat Step 5 increasing the wavelength by 25 nm each time. Continue the process
until reaching 675 nm. At 600 nm, move the filter lever (#11 in the diagram) to the
right.
While looking at the piece of chalk, slowly increase the wavelength to the point where
the color is no longer seen. This is one end of the visible spectrum. Record this
wavelength value.
Adjust the wavelength back to 425 nm. While looking at the piece of chalk, slowly
decrease the wavelength to the point where the color is no longer visible. This is the
other end of the visible spectrum. Record this wavelength value.
Viewing the Visible Spectrum
Frequency
Wavelength (nm) Observed Color
(Hertz) Notes
End of Spectrum
Materials:
Visible spectrophotometer Distilled water in squeeze bottle
Food coloring (red, blue, yellow and green) Tissues or Kimwipes
Cuvettes Excel graphing program
Cuvette rack Plastic wrap
Spectral Curve of Food Coloring
After you collect the data: handout-you will
do the following data analysis
Mix 5 drops of red and 5 drops of blue food coloring into a cuvette
and then dilute with about 5 ml of distilled water. Mix the
solution by carefully tapping the bottom of the cuvette as
demonstrated by your teacher.
Fill a second cuvette about halfway with distilled water. This will
serve as a “blank”.
350 525
375 550
400 575
425 600
450 625
475 650
500 675
PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL
CHANGE
Obtain spectral curves for the juice, and juice/acid mixture and
record them in Data Table 2.
PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL
CHANGE
Data Table 2. Absorbances of Juice And Juice/Acid Mixture
Wavelength (nm) Absorbance Juice Absorbance Wavelength (nm) Absorbance Juice Absorbance
Juice/Acid Juice/Acid
350 525
375 550
400 575
425 600
450 625
475 650
500 675
PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL
CHANGE
Make scatter type graphs of your data, using
graphing software or by hand, plotting
wavelength on the X axis and absorbance on
the Y axis. Compare the spectral curve of the
mixture to the spectral curve(s) of unmixed
substances to answer the following questions.
(If using graphing software, use overlay
techniques to compare the graphs.
Instructions for Excel graphing are attached to
this lab.)