Laboratory Equipment & Services Information System by Centralized Laboratory Management Office (CeLMO)

A laboratory spectrophotometer main function is to measure how a chemical substance absorbs light and to use that data for various types of analysis. The instrument can provide both qualitative and quantitative information about the sample

Quantitative analysis

• Determine unknown concentrations: By measuring the absorbance of a sample at a specific wavelength and comparing it to a calibration curve (a graph showing the absorbance of known standard solutions), the concentration of an unknown substance can be accurately determined.

Qualitative analysis

• Identify unknown compounds: Since each compound absorbs light over a specific range of wavelengths, its absorption spectrum can help identify the substance.
• Assess purity: By analyzing the absorbance ratio at different wavelengths, scientists can assess the purity of a substance. For example, the ratio of absorbance at 260 nm to 280 nm is commonly used to check the purity of a DNA or protein sample.

Others

• Biochemistry and molecular biology: Quantification of DNA, RNA, and protein concentrations; monitoring enzyme activity; and measuring bacterial growth.