Build your own spectrophotometer to measure the absorbance of a reaction product on Mars!
High School
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?
Length:
25
mins
Accessibility mode:
Available
Languages:
English (United States)
Spanish
German
French
Italian
At the end of this simulation, you will be able to:
Summarize how a spectrophotometer is used to measure absorbance data
Link the major components of a spectrophotometer to their functions within the instrument
Choose a useful wavelength for measuring a compound of interest using absorbance spectrum data
Suggest a protocol for measuring the absorbance of a given substance using a spectrophotometer
Apply the Beer-Lambert equation to absorbance data to determine substance concentration
At the end of this simulation, you will be able to:
University
NGSS
IB
AP
Engage students in science through interactive learning scenarios. Simulate experiments, train lab techniques, and teach theory through visual experiences that enhance long-term learning outcomes.
300+ Web-based simulations that can be played on laptops, Chromebooks, and tablets/iPads without installing any software
Teacher dashboard to automate grading and track student progress
Embedded quizzes to help students master science content
Library of learning resources, lab reports, videos, theory pages, graphics and more
Elevate your nursing program with UbiSim, a VR solution dedicated to clinical excellence.
Labster integrates with all major LMS (Learning Management Systems) so that educators can use their gradebooks to track students’ performance data and students can keep a record of their work. Labster is compatible with Canvas, Blackboard, Moodle, Google Classroom, Schoology, Sakai, and Brightspace / D2L. It’s also possible to use Labster without an LMS.
Summarize how a spectrophotometer is used to measure absorbance data
Link the major components of a spectrophotometer to their functions within the instrument
Choose a useful wavelength for measuring a compound of interest using absorbance spectrum data
Suggest a protocol for measuring the absorbance of a given substance using a spectrophotometer
Apply the Beer-Lambert equation to absorbance data to determine substance concentration