Spectroscopy: Interaction of light and matter

Chemists study how different forms of electromagnetic radiation interact with atoms and molecules. This interaction is known as spectroscopy. Just as there are various types of electromagnetic radiation, there are various types of spectroscopy depending on the frequency of light we are using. We will begin our discussion by considering UV-Vis spectroscopy – that is, what occurs within atoms and molecules when photons in the UV and visible ranges of the spectrum (wavelengths of about $10-700\text{ nm}$‍) are absorbed or emitted.

We have mentioned how atoms and molecules can absorb photons, thereby absorbing their energy. Depending on the energy of the photon absorbed or emitted, different phenomena can occur. We will start by considering the simpler case of what happens when a hydrogen atom absorbs light in the visible or UV region of the electromagnetic spectrum.

When an atom absorbs an UV photon or a photon of visible light, the energy of that photon can excite one of that atom’s electrons to a higher energy level. This movement of an electron from a lower energy level to a higher energy level, or from a higher energy back down to a lower energy level, is known as a transition. In order for a transition to occur, the energy of the photon absorbed must be greater than or equal to the difference in energy between the $2$‍ energy levels. However, once the electron is in the excited, higher energy level, it is in a more unstable position than it was when it was in its relaxed, ground state. As such, the electron will quickly fall back down to the lower energy level—and it doing so, it emits a photon with an energy equal to the difference in energy levels. (To help visualize all of this, this video on YouTube provides an excellent example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jyfi28i928)

In the diagram above, we have a simplified picture of some of the different energy level transitions possible for our hydrogen atom. Note that the larger the transition between energy levels, the more energy is absorbed/emitted. Therefore, higher frequency photons are associated with the larger energy transitions. For example, when an electron falls from the third energy level to the second energy level, it emits a photon of red light (wavelength of about $700\text{ nm}$‍); however, when an electron falls from the sixth energy level to the second energy level (larger transition), it emits a photon of purple light (wavelength of about $400\text{ nm}$‍), which is higher in frequency (and thus greater in energy) than red light.

The energy transitions for the electrons of each element are unique, and are distinct from one another. Thus, by examining the colors of light emitted by a particular atom, we can identify that element based upon its emission spectrum. The following shows a few examples of the emission spectra for some common elements:

Since each emission spectrum is unique to the element, we can think of each of these spectra as being like the “fingerprint” of each element. The thin bands indicate the particular wavelengths of light emitted when electrons in each element fall from an excited state down to a lower energy state. Scientists are able to isolate these different wavelengths by shining the light from excited atoms through a prism, which separates the different wavelengths through the process of refraction. Without a prism, however, we do not see these different wavelengths of light one at a time, but all blended together. Still, the color emitted by each element is quite distinct, which is often useful in a laboratory setting.

In the lab, we can often distinguish between elements by using a flame test. The following picture shows the characteristic green flame that appears when copper metal or copper-containing salts is burned. (Keep in mind that it is the heat energy—a type of electromagnetic radiation—that is able to excite the electrons in each atom.)

If we are testing an unknown sample in the lab to determine which elements it contains, we can always use a flame test, and draw a conclusion based on the color of flame that we see. (For more on the use of flame tests, check out this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oYF-HxtoYg)

So far, we have been talking about electronic transitions, which occur when photons in the UV-visible range of the spectrum are absorbed by atoms. However, lower energy radiation in the infrared (IR) region of the spectrum can also produce changes within atoms and molecules. This type of radiation is usually not energetic enough to excite electrons, but it will cause the chemical bonds within molecules to vibrate in different ways. Just as the energy required to excite an electron in a particular atom is fixed, the energy required to change the vibration of a particular chemical bond is also fixed. By using special equipment in the lab, chemists can look at the IR absorption spectrum for a particular molecule, and can then use that spectrum to determine what types of chemical bonds are present in the molecule. For example, a chemist might learn from an IR spectrum that a molecule contains carbon-carbon single bonds, carbon-carbon double bonds, carbon-nitrogen single bonds, carbon-oxygen double bonds, to name but a few. Because each of these bonds is different, each will vibrate in a different way, and absorb IR radiation of different wavelengths. Thus, by looking at an IR absorption spectrum , a chemist can make some important determinations about a molecule’s chemical structure.

The last type of spectroscopy we will consider is that used to determine the concentration of solutions containing colored compounds. If you’ve ever put food coloring in water, then you already know that the more food coloring you put in, the darker and more colored your solution becomes.

When a solution becomes darker, it means that it is absorbing more visible light. One of the most commonly used analytical techniques in chemistry is to place a solution of unknown concentration into a spectrophotometer—a device that measures the absorbance of the solution. Absorbance is measured from $0$‍ to $1$‍. An absorbance of zero means that light totally passes through the solution (the solution is completely clear), and an absorbance of $1$‍ means that no light passes through the solution (the solution is completely opaque). Absorbance is related to the concentration of the colored species in solution by the Beer-Lambert law, which is:

Where $A$‍ is the absorbance (a unitless quantity), $ϵ$‍ is the molar absorptivity constant (a constant unique to each compound, given in units of ${\text{M}}^{-1}{\text{cm}}^{-1}$‍), $l$‍ is the path length of the solution container (in $\text{cm}$‍), and $c$‍ is the concentration of the solution in molarity $(\text{M}$‍, or ${\displaystyle \frac{\text{mol}}{\text{L}}})$‍.

A copper (II) sulfate solution of unknown concentration is placed into a spectrophotometer. A student finds that the solution’s absorbance is $0.462$‍. The molar absorptivity of copper (II) sulfate is $2.81{\text{ M}}^{-1}{\text{cm}}^{-1}$‍, and the path length of the solution container is $1.00\text{ cm}$‍.

First, we can apply the Beer-Lambert Law.

Next, we rearrange the equation to solve for concentration, $c$‍.

Lastly, we can plug in our given values and solve for $c$‍.

Photons carry discrete amounts of energy called quanta which can be transferred to atoms and molecules when photons are absorbed. Depending on the frequency of the electromagnetic radiation, chemists can probe different parts of an atom or molecule's structure using different kinds of spectroscopy. Photons in the UV or visible ranges of the EM spectrum can have sufficient energy to excite electrons. Once those electrons relax back to their ground states, photons will be emitted, and the atom or molecule will give off visible light of specific frequencies. These atomic emission spectra can be used (often informally by using a flame test) to gain insight into the electronic structure and identity of an element.

Atoms and molecules can also absorb and emit lower frequency, IR radiation. IR absorption spectra are useful to chemists because they indicate the chemical structure of a molecule, and the types of bonds it contains. Lastly, spectroscopy can also be used in the laboratory to determine the concentrations of unknown solutions, using the Beer-Lambert Law.