Instrumental methods in bioprospecting: spectroscopy In: Winter School on Vistas in Marine Biotechnology 5th to 26th October 2010

Chakraborty, Kajal and Vijayan, K K and Vijayagopal, P (2010) Instrumental methods in bioprospecting: spectroscopy In: Winter School on Vistas in Marine Biotechnology 5th to 26th October 2010. [Teaching Resource]

Text Vistas in Marine Biotechnology_2010_Chp 28.pdf Download (31kB)

Abstract

Spectroscopy is a technique that uses the interaction of energy with a sample to perform an analysis. The data that is obtained from spectroscopy is called a spectrum. A spectrum is a plot of the intensity of energy detected versus the wavelength (or mass or momentum or frequency, etc.) of the energy. A spectrum can be used to obtain information about atomic and molecular energy levels, molecular geometries, chemical bonds, interactions of molecules, and related processes. Often, spectra are used to identify the components of a sample (qualitative analysis). Spectra may also be used to measure the amount of material in a sample (quantitative analysis). Because the response of a compound to electromagnetic (EM) radiation depends on its structure, spectroscopy can be used to educate the structure of unknown chemical products. EM radiation behaves both as a particle of light (called a photon) and as a wave moving at the speed of light (c; c = 3 x 108m/s).

Actions (login required)

View Item