Spectroscopy Calculator
Convert between wavelength, frequency, wavenumber, and photon energy for electromagnetic radiation used in spectroscopy.
Spectroscopic Parameters
Spectroscopy Fundamentals
Spectroscopy is a powerful analytical technique that studies the interaction between matter and electromagnetic radiation. Understanding the relationships between different units of light is crucial.
Key Constants:
- Speed of Light (c): 2.99792458 × 108 m/s
- Planck's Constant (h): 6.62607015 × 10-34 J·s
- Electron Charge (e): 1.602176634 × 10-19 C (for eV conversion)
Conversion Formulas:
- Frequency (f) from Wavelength (λ): f = c / λ
- Wavelength (λ) from Frequency (f): λ = c / f
- Wavenumber (ṽ) from Wavelength (λ): ṽ (cm⁻¹) = 1 / (λ (cm))
- Photon Energy (E) from Frequency (f): E = hf
- Photon Energy (E) from Wavelength (λ): E = hc / λ
Common Spectroscopic Regions
| Region | Wavelength Range | Frequency Range | Wavenumber Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| UV-Visible | 200 - 800 nm | 3.75 × 1014 - 1.5 × 1015 Hz | 12,500 - 50,000 cm-1 |
| Infrared | 2.5 - 25 μm | 1.2 × 1013 - 1.2 × 1014 Hz | 400 - 4000 cm-1 |
| Raman | (depends on excitation) | (depends on excitation) | 100 - 4000 cm-1 (Raman shift) |
| NMR | ~1 - 10 meters | ~30 - 300 MHz | (not typically used) |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is spectroscopy?
Spectroscopy is the study of the interaction between matter and electromagnetic radiation. It is used to analyze the composition, structure, and properties of materials by observing how they absorb, emit, or scatter light.
What are the key parameters in spectroscopy?
The key parameters are wavelength (λ), frequency (f), wavenumber (ṽ), and photon energy (E). These are all interconvertible and describe different aspects of the electromagnetic radiation used in spectroscopic techniques.
What are common types of spectroscopy?
Common types include UV-Vis spectroscopy (ultraviolet-visible, for electronic transitions), IR spectroscopy (infrared, for molecular vibrations), NMR spectroscopy (nuclear magnetic resonance, for molecular structure), and Mass Spectrometry (for molecular mass and structure).