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Absorption spectroscopy, also known as absorptiometry, is a technique in analytical chemistry used for determining the identity or concentration of a chemical substance. This method relies on measuring the amount of electromagnetic radiation that a substance absorbs at specific wavelengths. The absorbed wavelengths correspond to the characteristic absorption lines or bands associated with the substance.
In absorption spectroscopy, a sample is exposed to light across a range of wavelengths, and the amount of light absorbed by the sample is measured. This absorption spectrum is then used to identify the substance or quantify its concentration. The technique is widely employed in various scientific fields, including chemistry, biochemistry, and environmental science.
Different forms of absorption spectroscopy exist, such as ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, infrared (IR) spectroscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, each tailored for specific applications and types of molecules. Absorption spectroscopy provides valuable information about molecular structure, chemical composition, and the concentration of substances in a given sample.