Shahjalal University of Science and Technology

Report On
Nano Science and Nano Technology
Topic: UV-Visible Spectroscopy
Course Code- CEP 506

Submitted by
Hasanuzzaman Showrav (CEP M-1)
Session: 2018-2019
Dept. of Chemical Engineering & Polymer Science
Shahjalal University of Science and Technology
Submitted to
Dr Muhammad Zobayer Bin Mukhlish
Associate Professor
Dept. of Chemical Engineering & Polymer Science
Shahjalal University of Science and Technology

Date of Submission: 27-07-2020

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Contents
Definition of Spectroscopy and UV-visible Spectroscopy .......................................................................... 3
What Is Absorption of Radiation? .............................................................................................................. 3
The Electromagnetic Spectrum .................................................................................................................. 4
The Result of Interaction of UV-Vis Light and The Molecule ..................................................................... 5
UV-Spectroscopy: Possible Transitions Organic Molecules ....................................................................... 5
UV-Spectrometer: Measurement of Absorbed Radiation ......................................................................... 6
Instrumentation of UV Spectroscopy......................................................................................................... 7
UV-Spectroscopy: Absorption Law ............................................................................................................ 8
Beer–Lambert law .................................................................................................................................. 8
Chromophore ............................................................................................................................................. 9
Applications of UV-Visible Spectroscopy ................................................................................................... 9
Advantage and Disadvantage of UV-Vis Spectroscopy ............................................................................ 10

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 UV-Visible Spectroscopy

Definition of Spectroscopy and UV-visible Spectroscopy

Spectroscopy is the measurement and interpretation of electromagnetic radiation absorbed or emitted

when the molecules or atoms or ions of a sample moves from one energy state to another energy state.

A spectrum is a graphical representation of the amount of light absorbed or transmitted by matter as a

function of the wavelength. A UV-visible spectrophotometer measures absorbance or transmittance
from the UV range to which the human eye is not sensitive to the visible wavelength range to which the
human eye is sensitive.

What Is Absorption of Radiation?

Electronic orbitals of atoms and molecules have characteristic energies, giving rise to a set of discrete
energy levels. An electron can change from an occupied orbital to another orbital, gaining or losing
energy only in amounts exactly corresponding to the difference between two levels. The transition from
the ground state (lowest possible energy) at energy E0 to a higher level at energy En is possible if the
molecule absorbs electromagnetic radiation of the corresponding wavelength,

λ = ch=(En − E0)

where c= speed of light and

h=Planck’s constant.

Excited states usually exist only for a very short period, because the higher energy state is unstable and
the extra energy is lost through relaxation processes such as emission of light. The typical energy
difference between the ground and the first excited levels of many molecules corresponds to
electromagnetic waves of the ultra-violet (UV) and visible regions of the electromagnetic spectrum.

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The Electromagnetic Spectrum

The UV-visible range is only a small part of the total electromagnetic spectrum. It is generally defined
from wavelengths of 190 nm at the high energy UV end to about 750 nm at the low energy red end of
the spectrum. Light in other regions of the spectrum gives rise to different types of transitions and is
the subject of different types of spectroscopy. For example, IR radiation is usually not energetic enough
to cause electronic transitions but can excite vibrations of molecules. The wavelength λ is the distance
between adjacent peaks (or troughs) in the time-frozen electromagnetic wave and is given in meters,
centimetres or nanometres (10−9 meters).

Visible wavelengths cover a range from approximately 400 to 750 nm. The frequency ν is the number of
wave cycles that travel past a fixed point per unit of time and is usually given in cycles per second, or
Hertz (Hz). Frequency and wavelength are related via

λ = c/ν = 2πc/𝜔

where c=speed of light.

Angular frequency 𝜔 = 2πν (radians per second) is often used instead of ν.

When polychromatic or ’white’ light passes through or is reflected by a coloured substance, a particular
portion of the spectrum is absorbed. The remaining light will then exhibit a complementary colour to
the wavelength(s) absorbed.

Thus, absorption of blue light between 420-430 nm renders a substance yellow, and absorption of
green, 500-520 nm light makes it red. Green, to which our eyes are most sensitive, is unique in that it
can be created by absorption close to 400 nm as well as absorption near 800 nm.

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The Result of Interaction of UV-Vis Light and The Molecule

Ultraviolet light and visible light have just the right energy to cause an electronic transition of an electron
from one filled orbital to another of higher Energy unfilled orbital

When a molecule absorbs light of an appropriate wavelength, and an electron is promoted to a higher
energy molecular orbital, the molecule is then in an excited state

UV-Spectroscopy: Possible Transitions Organic Molecules

UV spectra of organic compounds are generally collected from 200-700 nm

 alkanes 150 nm

 carbonyls 170 nm

 Unsaturated compounds 180 nm

n  O, N, S, halogens 190 nm

n  carbonyls 300 nm

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Principle of UV Spectroscopy

 Spectroscopy is related to the interaction of light with matter

 As light is absorbed by matter, the result is an increase in the energy content of the atoms or
molecules
 When ultraviolet radiations are absorbed, this results in the excitation of the electrons from the
ground state towards a higher energy state
 Molecules containing π-electrons or non-bonding electrons (n-electrons) can absorb energy in
the form of ultraviolet light to excite these electrons to higher anti-bonding molecular orbitals
 The more easily excited the electrons, the longer the wavelength of light it can absorb. There
are four possible types of transitions (π–π*, n–π*, σ–σ*, and n–σ*), and they can be ordered as
follows: σ–σ* > n–σ* > π–π* > n–π*
 The absorption of ultraviolet light by a chemical compound will produce a distinct spectrum
which aids in the identification of the compound

UV-Spectrometer: Measurement of Absorbed Radiation

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Instrumentation of UV Spectroscopy

Light Source

 Tungsten filament lamps and Hydrogen-Deuterium lamps are most widely used and suitable
light source as they cover the whole UV region
 Tungsten filament lamps are rich in red radiations; more specifically they emit the radiations of
375 nm, while the intensity of Hydrogen-Deuterium lamps falls below 375 nm

Monochromator

 Monochromators generally are composed of prisms and slits

 Most of the spectrophotometers are double beam spectrophotometers
 The radiation emitted from the primary source is dispersed with the help of rotating prisms.
 The various wavelengths of the light source which are separated by the prism are then selected
by the slits such the rotation of the prism results in a series of continuously increasing
wavelength to pass through the slits for recording purpose
 The beam selected by the slit is monochromatic and further divided into two beams with the
help of another prism

Sample and reference cells

 One of the two divided beams is passed through the sample solution, and the second beam is
passed through the reference solution
 Both sample and reference solution is contained in the cells
 These cells are made of either silica or quartz. Glass can’t be used for the cells as it also absorbs
light in the UV region

Detector

 Generally, two photocells serve the purpose of the detector in UV spectroscopy.

 One of the photocells receives the beam from the sample cell and the second detector receives
the beam from the reference
 The intensity of the radiation from the reference cell is stronger than the beam of the sample
cell. This results in the generation of pulsating or alternating currents in the photocells

Amplifier

 The alternating current generated in the photocells is transferred to the amplifier.

 The amplifier is coupled to a small servomotor
 Generally, current generated in the photocells is of very low intensity; the main purpose of the
amplifier is to amplify the signals many times so we can get clear and recordable signals

Recording devices

 Most of the time amplifier is coupled to a pen recorder which is connected to the computer
 Computer stores all the data generated and produces the spectrum of the desired compound

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UV-Spectroscopy: Absorption Law

Beer–Lambert law

At a given wavelength, absorption is proportional to the concentration of absorbing molecules and the
path length of the light through the sample

A = εcl= log10 (I0/I)

A = absorbance of the sample = log10 (I0/I)

I0 = intensity of the radiation entering the sample

I = intensity of the radiation emerging from the sample

l = length of the light path through the sample, in centimeters

c = concentration of the sample, in moles/liter

ε = molar absorptivity (liter mol-1 cm-1 or M-1 cm-1 ) where M = mol L-1

The molar absorptivity (formerly called the extinction coefficient) of a compound is a constant that is
characteristic of the compound at a particular wavelength Molar absorptivities may be very large for
strongly absorbing compounds (>10,000) and very small if absorption is weak ( = 10 to 100)

No absorption gives ε = 0

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Chromophore

A chromophore is that part of a molecule that absorbs UV or visible light Chromophore

Alkanes: molecules contain single bonds and the only possible transitions are σ to σ* Absorb ultraviolet
energy at very short wavelengths below 200 nm, shorter than the wavelengths that are experimentally
accessible (200-700 nm)

Alcohols, Ethers, Amines, and Sulfur Compounds: In saturated molecules that contain atoms bearing
non-bonding pairs of electrons, possible transitions of the n to σ* They are also high-energy transitions

Alcohols and amines absorb in the range from 175 to 200 nm; Organic thiols and sulfides absorb
between 200 and 220 nm

Most of the absorptions are below the cutoff points for the common solvents, so they are not observed
in solution spectra.

Alkenes and Alkynes: Possible transitions are π to π*. These transitions are of rather high energy (170
nm) as well, but their positions are sensitive to the presence of substitution

Carbonyl Compounds: Unsaturated molecules that contain atoms such as oxygen or nitrogen may also
undergo n to π*transitions (280 to 290 nm). Carbonyl compounds also have a π to π* transition at about
188 nm

Applications of UV-Visible Spectroscopy

1. Detection of Impurities

UV absorption spectroscopy is one of the best methods to determine the impurities in organic
molecules. Additional peaks can be observed due to impurities in the sample, and it can be compared
with that of standard raw material. By also measuring the absorbance at a specific wavelength, the
impurities can be detected.

2. Quantitative analysis

UV absorption spectroscopy can be used for the quantitative determination of compounds that absorb
UV radiation. It is determined by using beer’s law.

3. Qualitative analysis

UV absorption spectroscopy can characterize those types of compounds which absorbs UV radiation.
Identification is made by comparing the absorption spectrum with the spectra of known compounds.

4. Chemical kinetics

Kinetics of reaction can also be studied using UV spectroscopy. The UV radiation is passed through the
reaction cell, and the absorbance changes can be observed.

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5. Detection of functional groups

This technique is used to detect the presence or absence of a functional group in the compound 
Absence of a band at a particular wavelength regarded as evidence for the absence of a particular group.

6. Quantitative analysis of pharmaceutical substances

Many drugs are either in the form of raw material or in the form of the formulation. They can be assayed
by making a suitable solution of the drug in a solvent and measuring the absorbance at a specific
wavelength. 0.5% H2SO4 can analyze diazepam tablet in methanol at the wavelength 284 nm.

7. Structure elucidation of organic compounds

UV spectroscopy is useful in the structure elucidation of organic molecules, the presence or absence of
unsaturation, the presence of hetero-atoms. From the location of peaks and a combination of peaks, it
can be concluded that whether the compound is saturated or unsaturated, hetero-atoms are present
or not etc.

8. Molecular weight determination

Molecular weights of compounds can be measured spectrophotometrically by preparing the suitable

derivatives of these compounds. For example, if we want to determine the molecular weight of amine,
then it is converted into amine picrate. A then known concentration of amine picrate is dissolved in a
litre of solution, and its optical density is measured at λ max 380 nm.

Advantage and Disadvantage of UV-Vis Spectroscopy

Advantage

 The core advantage is the accuracy of the UV-VIS spectrophotometer

 The UV-VIS spectrometer is easy to handling and use
 Provide robust operation
 UV-VIS spectroscopy is simple to operate
 Cost-effective instrument
 Cover the entire of ultraviolet and visible
 It can be utilized in the qualitative and quantitative analysis
 The Derivative graph can be obtained by UV-VIS spectrophotometer
 It can be used in the degradation study of drug
 Only possible for the analytes which have a chromophore

Disadvantage

 Only those molecules are analyzed which have chromophores

 The results of the absorption can be affected by pH, temperature, contaminants, and impurities.
 Only liquid samples are possible to analyze
 It takes time to get ready to use it
 Cuvette handling can affect the reading of the sample

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Reference

1. Sharma. Y.R. Elementary Organic Spectroscopy. First edition S.Chand Publisher; 2010.

2. Chatwal G.R. Instrumental methods of chemical analysis. First edition. Himalaya Publisher; 2010

3. Fundamentals of UV-visible spectroscopy- Workbook, Agilent Technologies

4. Organic Chemistry- lesson9 - UV-Visible Spectroscopy

(https://www.coursehero.com/file/16125304/Organic-Chemistry-lesson9/)

5. https://www.chem.uzh.ch/dam/jcr:ff066c7e-67a0-45aa-a18d-40e3f2aa4b88/UVVis_HS17.pdf

6. https://chrominfo.blogspot.com/2018/11/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-uv.html

7. https://www2.chemistry.msu.edu/faculty/reusch/VirtTxtJml/Spectrpy/UV-Vis/uvspec.htm

8. https://microbenotes.com/uv-spectroscopy-principle-instrumentation-
applications/#:~:text=Principle%20of%20UV%20Spectroscopy,-
Basically%2C%20spectroscopy%20is&text=When%20ultraviolet%20radiations%20are%20absorbed,to
wards%20a%20higher%20energy%20state.&text=The%20absorption%20of%20ultraviolet%20light,the
%20identification%20of%20the%20compound.

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