Experiment # 4

“Interaction of Light with

Matter: Beer’s Law”

Aya Sabry Safan

CHEM 117-501

13 October 2010

Lab partner: Varun Chauhan

Lab instructor: Layne Sarvela

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Abstract

The purpose of this experiment was to determine and deduce a mathematical form for the
relation between path length, concentration and color on the amount of light transmitted through
the solution. In part A, the effect of the path length on the light transmitted was examined in
order to find the relationship between path length and light intensity. In part B, the effect of
solution concentration on the light transmitted was examined in order to find the relationship
between the concentration and light intensity. In part C, the effect of the solution color on light
intensity. As result, there was a direct relationship between absorbance and path length, as well
the concentration. Moreover, the absorbance of light depends on the color of the solution. This
result is significant as it is useful in increasing the rate of photosynthesis in plants (increasing the
concentration of glucose). On exposing the plant to any color other than the range from green to
yellow, the rate increase. This is because these colors are highly absorbed rather than being
transmitted by the plant.
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Results

Before the experiment was preformed, several assumptions were made. First, the laser and the
light sensor positions should be adjusted and attach them firmly to the tabletop using lumps of
clay. Make sure to place the switch of the sensor to the highest available range before recording
the intensity. Don’t point the laser at anybody’s eyes as it can damage the red sensors in the
retina. In part B, we should swirl the solution carefully when diluting the solution.

 Part A:

In the table and the graphs below, the relation between path length, illumination,
transmittance and absorbance of light is shown when the concentration of the solution was
kept constant (0.03M).

Table 1: Path length, illumination, transmittance and absorbance relationship

molar absorption
Path length Illumination Transmittance
Absorbance coefficient, 𝜺
(cm) (lux) (%)
(𝑳 𝒎𝒐𝒍−𝟏 𝒄𝒎−𝟏)
0 19752 100.00 0.000 0.000
1 14022 70.99 0.149 4.967
2 10648 53.91 0.268 4.467
3 7591 38.43 0.415 4.611
4 5416 27.42 0.562 4.683
5 3003 15.20 0.818 5.453

Path length Vs Path length Vs Path length Vs

Illumination Transmittance Absorbance

Illumination Transmittance Absorbance

30000 150 1
Illumination (lux)

Transmittance (%)

Absorbance

20000 100
0.5
10000 50
0 0 0
1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6
Pathlength (cm) Path length (cm) Path length (cm)
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In table 1 and the graphs, it is shown clearly that as the path length increases, the illumination
and hence, the transmittance percentage decreases, but the absorbance increases. The ε value
hence is the ration between absorbance and path length. The variations between the values are
error resulted while using the loggerPro program or the position of the laser to the sensor wasn’t
adjusted well.

 Part B:

In the table below, the relation between solution concentration, illumination, transmittance and
absorbance of light is shown when the path length was kept constant (1 cm).

Table 2: Solution concentration, illumination, transmittance and absorbance relationship

molar absorption
Concentration Illumination Transmittance
Absorbance coefficient, 𝜺
(M) (lux) (%)
(𝑳 𝒎𝒐𝒍−𝟏 𝒄𝒎−𝟏)
0.25 3162 12.54 0.902 3.61
0.050 13148 52.15 0.283 5.66
0.010 17543 69.58 0.158 15.80
0.0020 24334 96.51 0.015 7.50
0.00040 28575 113.33 -0.054 -135.00
0.000080 23814 94.45 0.025 312.50
0.00 25213 100.00 0.000 0.00

Concentration Vs Illumination Concentration Vs Transmittance

Illumination Transmittance

35000 120
Transmittance (%)
Illumination (lux)

30000 100
25000 80
20000
60
15000
10000 40
5000 20
0 0

Concentration (M)
Concentration (M)
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Concentration Vs Absorbance In table 2 and the graphs, it is shown clearly

Absorbance that as the concentration increases, the
illumination and hence, the transmittance
1
percentage decreases, but the absorbance
0.8
increase. The ε value hence is the ration
Absorbance

0.6
between absorbance and concentration.
0.4
0.2 However, the negative absorbance value and
0 the decrement of the illumination values when
-0.2 the concentration was 8 x 10-5 M and 0M is
due to an error that occurred while doing the
Concentration (M) experiment. The illumination value of the
control (concentration of 0 M) is less than the
expected. Therefore, it affected the absorbance at the last two trials. The error that occurred
might be considered as a result of error while using the loggerPro program, the position of the
laser to the sensor wasn’t adjusted well or on diluting the solution, it wasn’t swirled well.

 Part C:

In the table below, effect of the color on the light intensity was examined.

Table 3: Effect of color

Path length Concentration Illumination Transmittance
Absorbance
(cm) (M) (lux) (%)
1 Concentrated 19386 100 0.000
2 Concentrated 13380 7.12 0.161
1 Diluted 23225 119.80 -0.078

In the table 3, it is shown clearly that the relation between the absorbance and path length and the
concentration is as the same as in part A and part B (directly proportional relationship).
However, on varying the wavelength of the light (color) the absorbance differs as the object
reflects its own color. Hence, the absorbance using red food coloring was greater than using
copper sulfate.
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Questions

1. When adding more cuvettes to increases the path length with a constant concentration,
the illumination decreases. The laser passes through more of molecules were it gets
absorbed as the path length increases. The absorbance increases as the path length
increases, as there is an inverse relationship between absorption and illumination.
Therefore, there is a direct relationship between absorbance and path length. On the other
hand, when diluting the solution (decreasing its concentration), the illumination and the
transmittance percentage increases. However, the absorbance decreases. This is due to the
decrement in the molecules number per 1 cm3. Hence, the absorbance is less efficient.
Therefore, when the path length is kept constant, there is a direct relationship between the
absorbance and concentration.

2. There is a directly proportional relationship between the absorbance and path length as
well solution concentration. Therefore, this can be mathematically expressed as
𝑨 = 𝒍 and 𝑨 = 𝒄. When combining these to equation and relating them to the constant
which is the ratio between absorbance and concentration multiplied by the path length
𝑨
(𝜺 = 𝒍 𝒄 ), the relation between absorbance, path length, and concentration is expressed as
𝑨 = 𝜺 𝒍 𝒄.

3. When varying the light wavelength (color), the absorbing property of solutions differs.
Moreover, it is known that the object reflects its own color. Hence, in order to increases
the light absorbance by a solution, avoid using the same solution’s color. This is
obviously shown in part C. When the copper sulfate solution is replaced by a red food
coloring solution, the illumination increase comparing it with results in part A (with path
length equals to 1 cm). Hence, the light absorbance decreased.
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Calculations and In-lab Printouts

Light transmittance value:

𝑰𝒕
𝑻 = ( ) × 𝟏𝟎𝟎%
𝑰𝟎

𝑰𝟏
𝑻 = ( ) × 𝟏𝟎𝟎%
𝑰𝟎

𝟏𝟒𝟎𝟐𝟐 𝒍𝒖𝒙
𝑻=( ) × 𝟏𝟎𝟎%
𝟏𝟗𝟕𝟓𝟐 𝒍𝒖𝒙

𝑻 = 𝟕𝟎. 𝟗𝟗%

Absorbance of light:
𝑰𝟎
𝑨 = 𝒍𝒐𝒈𝟏𝟎 ( )
𝑰𝒕

𝑰𝟎
𝑨 = 𝒍𝒐𝒈𝟏𝟎 ( )
𝑰𝟏
𝟏𝟗𝟕𝟓𝟐 𝒍𝒖𝒙
𝑨 = 𝒍𝒐𝒈𝟏𝟎 ( )
𝟏𝟒𝟎𝟐𝟐 𝒍𝒖𝒙

𝑨 = 𝟎. 𝟏𝟒𝟗

The molar absorption coefficient

𝑨=𝜺𝒍𝒄
𝑨
𝜺=
𝒍𝒄
𝟎. 𝟖𝟏𝟖
𝜺=
𝒎𝒐𝒍
𝟑 𝒄𝒎 × 𝟎. 𝟎𝟑( 𝑳 )

𝜺 = 𝟓. 𝟒𝟓𝟑 𝑳 𝒎𝒐𝒍−𝟏 𝒄𝒎−𝟏