Molecular Fluorescence Lab

Introduction

Fluorescence is a photoluminescence process in which atoms or molecules are excited by the

absorption of electromagnetic radiation. The excited species then relax to the ground state, releasing
their excess energy as photons. It is just one of many mechanisms by which the molecule returns to its
original ground state after being excited by the absorption of radiation. Molecular fluorescence is
measured by exciting the sample at the absorption wavelength, also known as the excitation
wavelength, and measuring the emission at a higher wavelength called the fluorescence wavelength.

All absorbent molecules have the potential to fluoresce, however, many compounds do not because
their structures provide pathways for non-radiative relaxation faster than fluorescent emission. The
quantum yield of molecular fluorescence is simply the ratio of the number of molecules that fluoresce to
the total number of excited molecules, or the ratio of photons emitted to photons adsorbed. Molecules
that fluoresce intensely have quantum efficiencies approaching unity under certain conditions. The
power of the fluorescent radiation F is proportional to the power of the excitation beam absorbed by
the system: F = K’ (Po – P)

Materials and Procedure.

Molecular Fluorescence machine

25 mL Volumetric Flask (7)

400 mL beaker (2)

10 mL Burette (2)

10 ml graduated cylinder (1)

We started preparing theH2SO4 (0.05M), Was needed 0.83 mL of the concentrated (18 M)
H2SO4 and we mixed with 300mL of water. For the Quinine, the solution was ready for us, in a 10ppm
concentration. One of our volumetric flasks was used for the unknown solution, the amount that was
given by the T.A, and we diluted to fill the flask with DI. With this new solution diluted, we used the
burette to add 3mL in each flask. After that, with the help of our table we can check the amount to finish
the solutions in the other flasks. After that we ran all the samples thru the Molecular Fluorescent
Machine.
 Sample Volume of Quinine (mL) Volume of Unknown (mL)
1 0 3
2 0.25 3
3 0.50 3
4 0.75 3
5 1.00 3
6 1.25 3

Conclusion

After having done the work, it was found that spectroscopy being the study of the interaction and
radiation of matter consisting in the absorption, emission or scattering of radiation by atoms or
molecules. Also, the fluorescence bands in solution are relatively wide at room temperature. However,
fluorescence has been shown to be a great tool in identification.