1. What is the Beer-Lambert Law Calculator?

Definition: This calculator determines the absorbance of a solution based on the Beer-Lambert Law, which relates the absorption of light to the properties of the material through which the light is traveling.

Purpose: It helps chemists, biologists, and researchers quantify how much light is absorbed by a solution at a specific wavelength.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Beer-Lambert Law formula:

Where:

• \( A \) — Absorbance (unitless)
• \( \epsilon \) — Molar extinction coefficient (m²/mol)
• \( c \) — Concentration of solution (mol/m³)
• \( l \) — Path length/thickness of cell (m)

Explanation: The absorbance is directly proportional to the concentration of the absorbing species and the path length that the light travels through the material.

3. Importance of Absorbance Calculation

Details: Accurate absorbance measurements are crucial for determining concentrations of solutions in spectroscopy, chemical analysis, and biological assays.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the molar extinction coefficient (specific to the substance and wavelength), solution concentration, and path length (cell thickness). All values must be > 0.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is typical molar extinction coefficient range?
A: It varies widely from 0 to over 100,000 m²/mol depending on the substance and wavelength.

Q2: What units should I use for concentration?
A: The calculator uses mol/m³, but you can convert from M (mol/L) by multiplying by 1000.

Q3: How does path length affect absorbance?
A: Absorbance increases linearly with path length - doubling the path length doubles the absorbance.

Q4: What's the valid range for absorbance values?
A: For accurate measurements, absorbance should typically be between 0.1 and 1.0.

Q5: Can I use this for multi-component systems?
A: The basic Beer-Lambert law applies to single components. For mixtures, absorbance is additive.