CHM260

BASIC INSTRUMENTAL ANALYSIS

LABORATORY SUMMARY WRITTEN

REPORT

Name : NURUL SHUHADAH BINTI

ABDUL HADI
ID No. : 2018637498
Programme : AS120
Instructor : MADAM ROSLIZA BINTI ALI
 EXPERIMENT 1:
The Visible Spectra of Soft Drinks
A. Pre-laboratory questions

a) Define spectroscopy and state type of electromagnetic radiation used in this

experiment.
Spectroscopy is the study of the interaction between electromagnetic radiation and
matter. The type of electromagnetic radiation used in this experiment is visible light.
b) Define the terms of transmittance and absorbance.
Transmittance is the fraction of incident radiation transmitted through the sample
medium. Absorbance is a measurement of the amount of radiant power absorbed by
the sample defined as the –ve log of T.
c) State Beer’s law mathematically and max.
Beer’s law states that the concentration of a chemical solution is directly proportional
to its absorption of light, A = εbc.
max refers to the wavelength at which a substance has its strongest photon absorption,
ℎ𝑐
= 𝐸

B. Post-laboratory questions

a) Based on Beer’s Law, when the concentration of an analyte increases, how will the
following be affected (increase, decrease, no change)
i. Absorbance - Increase
ii. Transmittance - Decrease
b) Why essential to obtain the absorption spectrum of the soft drinks first before
developing a calibration curve?
To find the max of the soft drinks sample to get accurate reading`
c) What is the purpose of using the ‘blank’ solution?
To set the wavelength to 0 nm
d) Name the colors absorbed in soft drink samples.
Blue-green

C. Complete the following table with wavelength and absorption given by the
instructor

Wavelength (nm) Absorbance

600 0.040
580 0.214
560 0.574
540 0.770
520 0.885
500 0.796
480 0.610
460 0.383
440 0.252
 420 0.213
400 0.2017
380 0.194
360 0.200

D. Complete the table of soft drinks concentration (volume %) and absorbance

Solutions Concentration Absorbance

1 5 0.179
× 100 = 10%
50
2 10 0.362
× 100 = 20%
50
3 15 0.537
× 100 = 30%
50
4 20 0.714
× 100 = 40%
50
5 25 0.885
× 100 = 50%
50
Unknown sample 14% 0.245

E. Report summary (1-2 pages)

a) Brief Introduction of the experiment

Spectroscopy is the study of relationship and interaction between electromagnetic
radiation and matter. Spectrocscopic technique is one of the technique that is mainly
used nowadays. Infrared, visible light, UV and X-ray are some of the example of
electromagnetic radiation and can be used to interact with matter. The word
spectroscopy is used to refer to the broad area of science dealing with the
absorption,emission or scattering of electromagnetic radiation by molecules, ions,
atoms or nuclei.The interaction between light and matter are one of chemical analysis
that are important towards the instrumental method. The Spectronic 20 is used to
measure the absorbance (or transmittance) of solutions. A Spectronic 20 is capable of
measuring % transmittance and absorbance over the range of 340 to 950 nm (the
range 600 to 950 nm requires a special infrared filter and a different lamp). Data
collected with spectrophotometer can be used to perform both qualitative and
quantitative analysis to determine the wavelength of maximum absorbance,
absorptivity value of a specific molecule and concentration of unknown solution from
standard calibration curve.
b) State the experiment methodology
A. Preparation of Standard Solutions of Soft Drink (Known Concentration)
1. Soft drink has been poured into a beaker and stirred to remove to remove the
carbonation.
2. 5.00 mL of the soft drink has been pipetted into a 50.00 mL volumetric flask and
diluted to the mark with distilled water. The solution has been covered and shaked to
make a homogeneous solution. The solution has been stored in a small beaker.
3. Step 2 has been repeated using 10 mL, 15 mL, 20 mL, and 25 mL soft drink.
B. Operation of the Spectronic 20 and Determination of max
1. The Spectronic 20 has been turned on and waited for the instrument to warm up (15
minutes).
2. The wavelength has been set to 600 nm.
3. 0% transmittance (% T) has been adjusted (Dark current has been adjusted –
nothing should be in the sample compartment).
4. A cuvette has been obtained. The tube has been cleaned and rinsed with distilled
water, and then the tube has been filled about ¾ fulled of ‘blank’ solution (the ‘blank’
was distilled water in this experiment). Any solution and fingerprints have been wiped
carefully from the outside of the tube using a Kimwipe.
5. 0 absorbance and 100% transmittance has been adjusted with the cuvette contained
the ‘blank’ in the sample holder. The cuvette has been removed and it has been set
aside without emptying the distilled water.
6. Another cuvette has been cleaned and rinsed with a small amount of the ‘standard’
soft drink whose absorbance was to be measured (ie any one of the diluted Soft Drink
solutions in Part A has been used). Then it has been filled about ¾ full with solution,
it has been wiped with a Kimwipe and it has been placed in the sample holder with
hash marks aligned. The absorbance has been read and recorded.
7. The cuvette has been removed, the top has been closed and the wavelength has
been changed to a setting which was 20 nm lower.
8. 0% transmittance has been reset if it has changed (sample compartment must be
empty).
9. The cuvette of distilled water has been inserted and reset the 100 % T. The cuvette
has been removed.
10. The cuvette containing the same Soft Drink solution used in step (6) has been
inserted.
 11. The absorbance has been read and the readings has been recorded in Table 1.2..
12. Steps 8 through 11 has been repeated until 360 nm, the absorbance readings at
each 20 nm interval has been taken.
13. A graph paper has been used, the absorption spectrum of soft drink has been
plotted and the max has been determined.
C. Preparation of ‘Unknown’ Soft drink Sample
1. Some of the soft drink has been poured into a beaker and stirred to remove the
carbonation.
2. The soft drink has been poured into a 50 mL volumetric flask without measuring
the volume and diluted to the mark with distilled water. The flask has been stoppered
and shaked to homogenize the solution. The colour of the unknown solution prepared
has been made sure not darker than the most concentrated standard solution.
3. The ‘unknown sample’ has been put into a cuvette until it was about ¾ full.
D. Quantitaive Analysis of The Soft drink Solutions
1. The Spectronic 20 has been set to the wavelength maximum (max) obtained from
Part B.
2. 0 and 100 % T has been set as given in the procedure above.
3. The absorbance of each 5 ‘standard’ soft drink solution has been measured and
recorded.
4. The absorbance of the ‘unknown’ soft drink solution has been measured and
recorded.
E. Cleaning Up
1. Since soft drink solution has been only used in this experiment, the waste can be
poured down the drain.
2. All cuvettes have been cleaned and dried.
c) State your finding (figures/calibration curve/calculation) and briefly discuss the
finding.
The Spectronic 20 is a brand of single-beam spectrophotometer, designed to operate in
the visible spectrum across a wavelength range of 340 nm to 950 nm, with a spectral
bandpass of 20 nm. A series of standard and unknows solution have been prepared from
soft drinks. The soft drinks used in this experiment was Fanta Strawberry which the
observed colour was red and absorbed colour was blue-green. A range of 360 – 600 nm
 has been set to use the Spectronic 20. Based on the graph plotted above, the higher the
absorbance of light by a solution, the lower the percent transmittance. The wavelength at
which absorbance is the highest is the wavelength to which solution is most sensitive to
concentration changes. This wavelength is called the maximum wavelength, max. Based
on this experiment, the max was 520 nm. The series of standard and unknown solution of
soft drink were then used to determine the concentration of unknown solution by plotting
the graph of absorbance versus concentration (%). The absorbance is directly proportional
to the concentration (%) which means the higher of the concentration value would result
in higher of the absorbance value. The concentration of the standard solutions can be
𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑓𝑡 𝑑𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑘𝑠 𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑑
calculated using the fomula, × 100 whereby the volume of soft
50 𝑚𝐿
drinks used = 5 mL, 10 mL, 15 mL, 20 mL and 25 mL. The concentration of the unknown
solution thus can be determined from the plotted graph above which is 14%.
e) State the advantages and limitation (if any) of the instrument used as a conclusion.
Advantages Limitations
 It is low cost, durability and ease  It takes time to prepare to use
one
of use
 If the space has not been
 Give accurate reading properly prepared, even a small
bit of outside light or vibration
from a small electronic device
could interfere with the results

f) Cited 2-3 references used.

References
Cook, M. (2018, April 29). Leaf Group Ltd. Retrieved from Sciencing:
https://sciencing.com/advantages-disadvantages-uvvis-spectrometer-6466475.html

Fadli, I. (2013, October 20). Scribd Inc. Retrieved from Scribd:

https://www.scribd.com/doc/177484933/THE-VISIBLE-SPECTRA-OF-SOFT-DRINKS-docx

Marvellis. (n.d.). Course Hero. Retrieved from

https://www.coursehero.com/file/46718341/EXPERIMENT-1-chm260docx/

Nor, A. M. (2011, June 14). Course Hero. Retrieved from https://dokumen.tips/documents/lab-ins-1-

spectronic-20.html