J.T.

Parker
Concentration Lab
Conclusion
Spectroscopy is measuring how much of which wavelengths are
absorbed by a substance. From these measurements, more detailed
information can be found about the substance. The clearest way to
demonstrate spectroscopy is by using a visible spectrometer. A visible
spectrometer is a machine that shines a beam of light into a solution
then reads how much of that light comes out of the other side. By
comparing the amount of light transmitted by the pure solvent to the
amount transmitted by the whole solution, calculations can be made to
determine the absorbance. Absorbance and concentration relate
directly to each other and by using this information, the concentration
of blue dye in Gatorade can be found.
In this investigation, the objective was to determine the
concentration of blue dye in Gatorade. In order to do this, the
absorbance and concentration of different dilutions of stock solutions
were found. Absorbance was found using the spectrometer and
concentration was found by using the dilution ratios of each sample of
stock solution. Using this information, a graph was created and a line
of best fit was drawn. Samples of dark and light blue Gatorade were
placed in the spectrometer and absorbance was given. The absorbance
numbers were then used to find concentration on the graph. The final

results were as follows: Dark blue Gatorade concentration 5.2uM

Light blue Gatorade concentration 2.5uM.
While this experiment was being conducted, there are possible
points of error that could have affected the final results. One possible
error is the different viewpoints of reading a meniscus. This would
effect how much of stock solution or water was used, thus effecting the
absorbance. A second error is the possibility of fingerprints left on the
test tube that was being placed into the spectrometer. Fingerprints
would have affected the absorbance. A final error is the different
drawings of the line of best fit. Each person has a different viewpoint
and will have different lines of best fit, which would affect the final
result of concentration for Gatorade.