In the procedure for spectrophotometry, what is plotted on the x-axis of the graph created?

In the procedure for spectrophotometry, what is plotted on the x-axis of the graph created?

• A. Absorbance values
• B. Molarity
• C. Time
• D. Wavelength

Answer: (D)

In spectrophotometry, the x-axis of the graph typically represents wavelength. This is because the method involves measuring how much light is absorbed at various wavelengths by a solution, which contains the analyte of interest. A spectrophotometer emits light across a range of wavelengths, and the instrument detects the amount of light that passes through the sample at each wavelength. By plotting wavelength on the x-axis, one can generate an absorption spectrum, which provides insights into the characteristics of the substance being measured. Different substances absorb light at specific wavelengths, and this information is crucial for identifying and quantifying the analyte. The resulting graph helps in understanding the molecular properties of the compound and assists in further analyses, including concentration calculations. In contrast, absorbance values tend to be plotted on the y-axis, as they correspond to the amount of light absorbed by the sample at the specified wavelengths. Molarity could potentially be represented on the y-axis in a different context, but it is not relevant to the standard spectrophotometric graph. Time is also not relevant in a basic spectrophotometric analysis, as the primary focus is on the relationship between absorbance and wavelength.

In spectrophotometry, the x-axis of the graph typically represents wavelength. This is because the method involves measuring how much light is absorbed at various wavelengths by a solution, which contains the analyte of interest. A spectrophotometer emits light across a range of wavelengths, and the instrument detects the amount of light that passes through the sample at each wavelength.

By plotting wavelength on the x-axis, one can generate an absorption spectrum, which provides insights into the characteristics of the substance being measured. Different substances absorb light at specific wavelengths, and this information is crucial for identifying and quantifying the analyte. The resulting graph helps in understanding the molecular properties of the compound and assists in further analyses, including concentration calculations.

In contrast, absorbance values tend to be plotted on the y-axis, as they correspond to the amount of light absorbed by the sample at the specified wavelengths. Molarity could potentially be represented on the y-axis in a different context, but it is not relevant to the standard spectrophotometric graph. Time is also not relevant in a basic spectrophotometric analysis, as the primary focus is on the relationship between absorbance and wavelength.