Spectrophotometry: Learn the Beer-Lambert law with absorbance experiments Virtual Lab

Determine a solution's concentration using light! In this simulation, you will build your own spectrophotometer - a machine that measures how much light is absorbed by a solution. Using the spectrophotometer and Beer-Lamberts law, you will be able to determine how much product is made after you add a new Martain catalyst to your reaction.

Build your spectrophotometer 

Go under the hood of the spectrophotometer to understand how its components fit together. Try out different configurations of the components and see how they impact the light's path. The complexity of the spectrophotometer you build will increase over three levels going from a linear setup of three components, to a non-linear setup with six components. Can you figure out what each component does, and how they all work together in the finished instrument? 

Operate a spectrophotometer and collect your own data

Once you’ve successfully built your instrument, it’s time to try it out! To get started, you’ll need to interpret spectra to determine the optimal wavelength your reaction product absorbs. Once you’re ready, set the baseline, and you’re off! Observe how the absorbance changes when you increase the reactant and catalyst concentration. Then link these changes in absorbance back to the amount of product and reaction rate. 

Build confidence in applying Beer-Lambert Law to your data

Throughout the simulation, the different conceptual elements of Beer-Lambert law are explained as the spectrophotometer’s function is explored. Will you be able to rise to the final challenge, and convert your absorbance data into concentration data using Beer-Lambert's law?