CHAPTER 4

SPECTROCHEMICAL
ANALYSIS
Dr. Hazlini Binti Dzinun, AMIChemE
Jabatan Sains & Matematik,
Pusat Pengajian Diploma (PPD), UTHM
Contact No: +60132531087
Email: hazlini@uthm.edu.my, hazlinidzinun@gmail.com
• 4.1: INTRODUCTION TO SPECTROSCOPY
• 4.2: INSTRUMENTS FOR MEASURING
ABSORPTION
• 4.3: MOLECULAR AND ATOMIC
SPECTROSCOPIC METHODS
• 4.4: UV-VIS AND FTIR
 Introduction
• Ultraviolet (UV) and visible spectrometers have been used
for the last 35 years and over this period have become the
most important analytical instrument in the modern day
laboratory.
• In many applications other techniques could be employed
but none rival UV-Visible spectrometry for its simplicity,
versatility, speed, accuracy and cost-effectiveness.
• The molecular spectroscopy is the study of the interaction
of electromagnetic waves and matter.
• The scattering of sun’s rays by raindrops to produce a
rainbow and appearance of a colorful spectrum when a
narrow beam of sunlight is passed through a triangular
glass prism.
 What is spectroscopy?
The analysis of the interaction between matter and
any portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.
 What is an electromagnetic spectrum?

 The electromagnetic spectrum is the distribution of

electromagnetic radiation according to energy, frequency or
wavelength.
 The electromagnetic radiation is a form of energy that is
transmitted through space at enormous velocities.
 The electro-magnetic radiation can be described as a stream of
photons, which are particles travelling in a wavelike pattern,
moving at the speed of light.
 The photon is the fundamental particle of visible light.
 Radio waves, infrared rays, visible light, ultraviolet rays, X-rays and
gamma rays all consist of photons, each of which contains a
particular amount of energy that depends on the wavelength.
The Electromagnetic Spectrum
Wavelength, frequency and wavenumber
• Wavelength (λ) is measured in meters (m) and since
wavelength are usually very small one often uses the
nanometer (nm) which is 10-9 m.
• Frequency (v) describes the number of waves that
pass a fixed place in a given amount of time (number
of wave/second).
• The frequency (v) in the SI system is measured in s-1
which is called a Hertz (the number of waves that pass
by per second) and represented by Hz.
• Wavenumber is the reciprocal of the wavelength (1/ λ),
cm-1.
Wavelength (in m, cm or nm)

The wavelength (λ) of

electromagnetic radiation

Frequency (in s-1) or hertz

 What is spectrum?
 The data that is obtained from spectroscopy is called
a spectrum.
 A spectrum is a plot of the intensity of energy
detected versus the wavelength (or mass or
momentum or frequency, etc) of the energy.
Spectrum of UV-Visible
Spectroscopy

Spectrum of IR
Spectroscopy
What information is obtained from a spectrum?

• Atomic and molecular energy levels, molecular

geometries, chemical bonds, interactions of molecules
and related processes.

• Often, spectrum is used to identify the components of a

sample (qualitative analysis).

• Spectra may also be used to measure the amount of

material in a sample (quantitative analysis)
 Absorption of Light
• Many types of chemicals absorb various forms of light
• When a chemical absorbs light, it goes from a low energy
state (ground state) to a higher energy state (excited state)
• Only photons with energies exactly equal to the energy
difference between the two electron states will be absorbed.
• Since different chemicals have different electron shells which
are filled, they will absorb their own particular of light.
• Infrared radiation excites vibrations of molecules
• Visible and UV radiation promote electrons to higher energy
states.