nephelometri

Nephelometry is an analytical method used to determine the concentration of a substance in a liquid sample by measuring the degree of light scattering. It is a type of turbidimetry, but whereas turbidimetry measures the light that is *not* scattered, nephelometry measures the light that *is* scattered. When a beam of light passes through a solution containing suspended particles, the light is scattered in all directions. A nephelometer is an instrument that detects and quantifies this scattered light. The amount of scattered light is proportional to the concentration and size of the suspended particles. The instrument typically consists of a light source, a sample cell, and a detector positioned at an angle to the incident beam, usually 90 degrees. The intensity of the scattered light is measured and compared to a calibration curve generated using standards of known concentration. Nephelometry is widely used in various fields, including clinical chemistry for measuring proteins, lipids, and other analytes in blood and urine, as well as in environmental monitoring to assess water quality and in food science for product analysis. It is a sensitive technique but can be affected by the presence of multiple scattering species or by variations in particle size and shape.