UV Visible Spectros
UV Visible Spectros
UV-Visible spectroscopy deals with the study of absorption of light in the UV region (100-
400 nm) & visible region (400-800 nm) of the electromagnetic spectrum.
In molecules, not only have electronic level but also consist of vibrational & rotational
sub-levels.
This result in band spectra.
Principle of UV – Visible Spectroscopy
Basically, 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.
The Principle of UV-Visible Spectroscopy is based on the absorption of ultraviolet light or visible light by
chemical compounds. When a molecule absorbs a photon of UV-Vis light, molecule is excited from its ground
state. In other words, an electron is promoted from HOMO (Highest-energy Occupied Molecular Orbital) of the
molecule to the LUMO (Lowest-energy Unoccupied Molecular Orbital) of the molecule. The HOMO is commonly
a π orbital of conjugated functional group and the LUMO is commonly a π* orbital of conjugated functional group.
The smaller the energy difference between HOMO & LUMO, the less energy is needed & the longer the
wavelength that will be absorbed.
INSTRUMENTATION & WORKING
1. Light source
2. Monochromator
3. Sample & Reference
4. Detector
APPLICATIONS
Example :- Methane(CH4) has C-H bond only and can undergo σ → σ* transition and
shows absorbance maxima at 125 nm.
2. π → π* transition
Saturated compounds containing atoms with lone pair of electrons like O, N, S &
halogens are capable of n → σ* transition.
These transition usually requires less energy than σ → σ* transitions.
The number of organic functional groups with n → σ* peaks in UV region is small (150
– 250 nm).
4. n → π* transition
max = 245 nm
3. Hyperchromic Shift :-
Absorption intensity of a compound is increased
If auxochrome introduces to the compound, the intensity of absorption increases
Example :-