A student fails to fill the cuvette 2/3 full with the reaction mixture ( CV+ and OH-). What effect does this error have on the measured absorbance values? Thank you :)
2 answers
I don't know how full the tube is at 2/3 full; however, if the fluid in the tube is completely irradiated by the beam then there is no effect. If the fluid in the tube is such that some of the beam goes through the fluid and some of the beam is outside the fluid, then the measured absorbance will be too small.
It could be that there would be no
effect if the light path is positioned low enough so that all of the light passes through the volume of the
sample. If the light path is higher than the 2/3 mark on the cuvette, then light not passing through the
sample strikes the photodetector unabsorbed which significantly lowers the measured absorbance values.
effect if the light path is positioned low enough so that all of the light passes through the volume of the
sample. If the light path is higher than the 2/3 mark on the cuvette, then light not passing through the
sample strikes the photodetector unabsorbed which significantly lowers the measured absorbance values.
2 answers