Question

Why would it be better to use lighter colored lights (like yellow) be used in a spectroscopy experiment, rather than a green colored light? If green is used instead of yellow, would absorbance values be higher or lower?

I don't understand :(

Answer 1

remember, darker colors absorb better, so since yellow is lighter than green, yellow will absorb less

Answer 2

Confused? That makes two of us. And I don't go with Fluffy's explanation either. It all depends upon the color of the solution you are measuring. Also, "lighter colored" doesn't mean anything either. That's a relative term. I understand the difference between light yellow and dark yellow but is light red lighter or darker than dark yellow? Who knows? Use the color wheel to determine the wavelength you need to use.