Light absorption and transmittance, and verification

of Beers Law
Zeliena Dominique J. Cruz1, Deus Lean Grafane1, John Ericksson Manuzon1
1
Department of Electrical Engineering CEAT, UP Los Baos

*zjcruz@up.edu.ph

Abstract. In this experiment, the different wavelengths and intensities emitted by raw light
source after it passed water of different color solutions with different concentrations were
observed. Each intensity was analyzed based on the peak of highest and lowest absorbance
with respect to its concentration and wavelength. Afterwards, the experimental, , or the
wavelength-dependent molar absorptivity coefficient was computed using Beer-Lamberts law

1. Introduction
Objects have the ability to absorb and reflect electromagnetic wavelengths which determines its color.
When a marigold flower struck sunlight which combination of different wavelengths, the marigold
will absorb all wavelengths aside from the wavelength of yellow which it will reflect to the naked eye.
Thats why marigold appears in yellowish color. In this experiment, the focus was on absorbance
spectroscopy and intensity of absorbance of wavelength

Light is considered as an electromagnetic wave which means it possess wave characteristic

including wavelength. In white light for instance is a mixture of all visible and so their specific
wavelengths [2]. The wavelengths of visible light, which are the colors of the rainbow, fall between
400 to 700 nanometer [2]. Outside of these parameters are considered invisible to the naked human
eye like infrared light that is above 700 nanometer and ultraviolet light that is below 400 nanometer.

Objects absorbs lights depends on their molecular composition such as a phenol group absorb
wavelengths of 2.2 to 3.0 microns [3]. A light spectrum is used to represents the different length of
wavelengths of light as well their designated colors. When light is absorbed, the light spectra will have
black lines which indicate the wavelength and color absorbed by the object and this spectrum is called
absorption spectra [4]. In addition and as its counterpart, the emission spectra show the absorbed lines
and their colors [4].The absorbance can be measured using the Beer-Lambert where it is equal to the
product of the path length, proportionality constant and the concentration used in the setup [5].

2. Methodology
The materials used in the experiment are beakers, color dyes, Red Tide, and light source. The first part
of the experiment was conducted to determine the relationship between the absorbance of the
substance and its concentration, and the later part was to find out the absorbance of different color
dyes.

The set up for the experiment is shown in figure 3.1. To know the relationship between the
absorbance and concentration, only one color dye was used. First, all equipment and devices were
calibrated. Then the beaker was filled with 150mL water and 2mL color blue dye was added. All light
sources were turned off except for the source intended for the experiment. While the light source was
on, the Red Tide split the emitted light and sent the data to the computer. Data were being gathered
every after addition of 1mL blue dye in the solution until it has a total of 6mL.
 Figure 3.1 Set up of the experiment

Same set up was done for the second part of the experiment. The only difference made was instead
of only blue dye, red, orange, green, yellow, and dark blue solutions were used. The light was
illuminated to the colored liquids one at a time and the results were recorded. As for reference, light
was also illuminated towards the beaker with water alone.

Red Tide splits Record and

Light strikes
Light source the full graph the
the sample
spectrum results

Figure 3.2 Flowchart of methodology

3. Results and Discussion

Spectroscopy is the science that studies physical system through electromagnetic radiation which
they contact or produce [1]. A special instrument called spectrometer is used in order to have a
quantitative data on the incident light with specific intensity. This device gives the absorbance
spectrum which is simply the graph of absorbance versus the wavelength.

3.1 Transmittance
Light is much related to photons and to measure light, the concept of intensity is coined where it is the
number of photons delivered at a given time. The equation for the transmittance is use to know the
describe the amount of the intensity received from the original intensity of light after it passes a
medium. The formula is given by Equation 1:

I
T = (I0) Equation 1

where T is the transmittance and has no unit, the I0 is the intensity of the incident light from the light
source and I is the intensity of light after it passes on a medium [5]. The value of transmittance can be
projected as a percentage by simply multiplying the equation to 100. This formula is given by the
equation 2:
 I
T = (I0) 100 Equation 2

On the other hand, when a light shone to a colored object, some are being absorbed by the object.
Chromophores are the molecules responsible for the absorption of light. Dependent to the structure
and environment of the Chromophores, lights are absorbed at specific frequencies and wavelengths
[6].

3.2 Absorbance and Beer-Lambert Law

The absorbance of light specifically its wavelength depends on the composition of the object. If we
pass a beam of light on a fairly diluted solution, we will expect that many photons will pass through
the medium which indicate higher transmittance but lower absorption. If we increase the concentration
of the solution, there will be a decrease of photons that will pass through which means lower
transmittance but higher absorption of light by the solution. The absorption of light is given by the
equation 3:
I
A = ( ) () Equation 3
I0

Where is A is the absorbance is described as the negative logarithm of thetransmittance [5]. The
absorbance can be also obtained using the Beer-Lambert Law. The Beer-Lambert law is given by the
equation 4
A = x l x c Equation 4
Where l is the path length commonly given in meters but can be any length units, c is the
concentration of the absorbing medium expressed in molarity and is the proportionality
constant which is expressed in reciprocal of the units of the l and concentration used [5].

3.2.1 Absorbance of different wavelength in varying concentration

Absorbance vs. Wavelength (2ml)

3
2.5
Absorbance

2
1.5
1
0.5
0
380
406
432
458
484
510
536
562
588
614
640
666
692
718
744
770
796
822
848
874
900
926

Wavelength

Figure 3.3 Absorbance vs. Wavelength of solution with 2ml blue

concentration

Based on the graph in figure 3.3 the wavelength in the visible spectrum where it reached its lowest
absorption is at 452 to 498 nanometer where it drops to 0 absorbance. The color this wavelength is
most likely to fall in blue. The highest absorptivity is obtained at the wavelength 400 nanometer with
an absorbance of 2.965.
 Absorbance vs. Wavelength (3ml)
3.5
3
Absorbance

2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0 588

926
380
406
432
458
484
510
536
562

614
640
666
692
718
744
770
796
822
848
874
900
Wavelength

Figure 3.4 Absorbance vs. Wavelength of solution with 3ml blue

concentration

Based on the graph in figure 3.4 the wavelength in the visible spectrum where it reached its lowest
absorption is at 452 to 498. The color this wavelength is most likely to fall in blue. The highest
absorptivity is obtained at the wavelength 577 nanometer with an absorbance of 2.981.

Absorbance vs. Wavelength (4ml)

3.5
3
Absorbance

2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
520

772
380
408
436
464
492

548
576
604
632
660
688
716
744

800
828
856
884
912
940

Wavelength

Figure 3.5 Absorbance vs. Wavelength of solution 4ml blue

concentration

Based on the graph in figure 3.5 the wavelength in the visible spectrum where it reached its lowest
absorption is at 452 to 498. The color this wavelength is most likely to fall in blue. The highest
absorptivity is obtained at the wavelength 638 nanometer with an absorbance of 2.987.
 Absorbance vs. Wavelength (5ml)
3.5
3

Absorbance
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0

752
783
814
845
380
411
442
473
504
535
566
597
628
659
690
721

876
907
938
Wavelength

Figure 3.6 Absorbance vs. Wavelength of solution with 5ml blue

concentration

Base on the graph in figure 3.6 the wavelength in the visible spectrum where it reached its lowest
absorption is at 452 to 498. The color this wavelength is most likely to fall in blue. The highest
absorptivity is obtained at the wavelength 572 and 620 nanometer with an absorbance of 3.

Based on figures 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, and 3.6, as the concentration increases in a solution with a constant
light intensity from a source, the peak of absorbance in the visible spectrum also increases. The
concentration in percent is given by the equation:

volume of the solute

Percent concentration = (volume of the solution) 100 Equation 5

Initially the amount of solvent used is a 150ml tap water and the volume of the mixture an
addition of the volume of the blue dye used. The given concentration of dye is clearly stated
by the table.

Table 3.1 Concentration and absorbance for each volume of dye

Volume of dye used Concentration Absorbance
2ml 1.31% 2.665

3ml 1.96% 2.981

4ml 2.60% 2.987

5ml 3.23% 3
 Figure 3.7 Concentration Percent vs. absorbance

The equation for Absorbance is given by A=lc (Equation 4) where is the is orginally expressed in
the reciprocal of the product of the unit of length used and the molality (Mcm) -1. But due to
insufficient data such as the exact molar weight of the solution (mixture of coloring ingredient and
solvent used), density (to know the weight of the solution) the unit for experimentally we be getting
is (cm-1)/percent concentration. The formula can be rewritten as y=mx where x is the percent
concentration and m is equivalent to the constant l. The slope is given by 0.158700747. In order to
get the in(cm-1)/percent, we simply divide it by the pathlengthl that has a value of 6.5cm which is
0.02441549954 (cm-1)/percent

3.3 Absorbance and different wavelengths

For the analysis of the data, the only wavelengths being considered are within the visible lights
(400nm 700nm). Absorption of light is not limited to certain wavelengths as shown in figure 3.3.
Absorptions occurred at different wavelengths for each color dye also, maximum and minimum
absorbances were observed. Notice that in figure 3.3, maximum absorbance can be observed at several
wavelengths while the minimum absorbance occurred only at a specific wavelength.

(a)
 (b)
Figure 3.3 Wavelength vs. Absorbance graph of different dye samples

Based from the graphs, maximum or peak absorbance occurred at the wavelengths complementary to
the observed color of the dye. For example, in figure 3.3 (a), the peak absorbance for color blue,
2.778, was seen at 567nm and 584nm. In the light spectrum, 567nm and 584nm falls between green
light and yellow light. While at the wavelength equivalent to the color of the dye, minimum
absorbance was observed. The minimum absorbance for blue dye is 0.251 at 481 nm and this
wavelength falls under blue light.

At wavelengths where maximum absorbance happened, the lights are totally absorbed. On the other
hand, the least absorbed light is the one transmitted the most and perceived by the eyes. When a man
sees a red apple, this means that maximum absorption occurred at the wavelengths of other colors and
the only light being transmitted is the red color.

Table 3.2 Wavelengths where maximum and minimum absorbance were observed

Wavelength Maximum Wavelength Minimum

(nm) (nm)
Absorbance Absorbance

Dark Blue 405 2.924 476 2.707

Blue 567, 584 2.778 481 0.251

Green 400, 631 2.98 512 1.285

Yellow 408 2.978 628 1.35

Orange 404 2.508 582 0.003

Red 400 3 638 1.102

4. Conclusion and Recommendation
There is a direct relation between the absorbance and the concentration of the liquid. The solution with
2 mL of blue dye, whose concentration is 1.31% has the lowest absorbance of 2.665. While the
solution with 3 mL of blue dye, whose concentration is 1.96% has the absorbance of 2.981.
Furthermore, the solution with 4 mL of blue dye whose concentration is 2.60% has the absorbance of
2.987. Lastly, the solution with 5 mL of blue dye whose concentration is 3.23% has the highest
absorbance of 3. Thus, as the concentration of the fluid increases, the absorbance also increases. Based
on equation 4, using linear regression, we can get the slope, which is equal to (proportionality
constant) times l (path length). So to get the value of the proportionality constant, the slope is the
divided to the path length.

The color of the sample depends on the minimum absorbance. The wavelength with the least
absorbance will most likely be the wavelength of the color of the sample. It is because all the other
colors were absorbed by the sample. There is an inverse relation between the absorbance and the
transmittance. While the wavelength with the maximum absorbance is the most sensitive to change in
concentration.

All of the factors that may cause significant differences in the results were controlled-source of
light, distance of the source of light from the solution tested, magnification of the light, and the
position of the Red Tide. However, other factors like the purity of the composition of the water used
can also affect the resulting absorbance. Though obtained results were still consistent with the
expected result. And so for further improvement of this experimental procedure, the purity of water
can also be used as factors to test the reflection and absorption of light.

References
[1] McNaught and Wilson A 1997 Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 2nd ed. (the Gold book)
(Oxford, Blackwell Scientific Publication)
[2] 2012 College Physics Openstax(Houston:Texas) Chapter 25 p997
[3] Foist LAbsorption Spectroscopy: Definition & Types. (Website article) Retrieved from:
http://study.com/academy/lesson/absorption-spectroscopy-definition-types.html
[4] Young H. Frredman R. and Ford L. Sears and Zamanskys University Physics with Modern
Physics 13th Edition (Singapore: Pearson Education Inc) Chapter 36 p1203
[5] Hardesty J and Bassam A Spectrophotometry and the Beer-Lambert Law (United States: Collin
College)
[6] Sheehan D Physical Biochemistry: Principles and Applications (West Sussex, UK: John Wiley &
Sons Ltd) 2nd Edition p.58 Chapter 3

First name Surname Institution Email address Title (Prof/

Dr./student)
Zeliena Dominuque Cruz UPLB zjcruz@up.edu.ph Student
Deus Lean Grafane UPLB dbgrafane@up.edu.ph Student
John Ericksson Manuson UPLB jmmanuzon1@up.edu.ph Student