absorptsioonikõvera

Absorptsioonikõver, known in English as an absorption spectrum or absorption curve, is a graphical representation that shows how much light a substance absorbs at different wavelengths. Typically, the x-axis represents the wavelength of light, often in nanometers (nm), and the y-axis represents the absorbance. Absorbance is a measure of the amount of light that has been absorbed by the sample.

When light passes through a sample, certain wavelengths are absorbed by the molecules within that sample. This absorption is due to the excitation of electrons within the molecules to higher energy levels. The specific wavelengths absorbed are characteristic of the substance's chemical structure. The resulting pattern of absorption, plotted as a curve, is unique to that substance, similar to a fingerprint.

Absorptsioonikõverad are fundamental tools in various scientific disciplines, including chemistry, physics, and biology. They are used for qualitative analysis, helping to identify unknown substances by comparing their absorption spectra to known standards. They are also used for quantitative analysis to determine the concentration of a substance in a sample, often using the Beer-Lambert law, which relates absorbance to concentration and path length. Spectrophotometers are the instruments commonly used to measure and generate these curves.