Chapter 26: Problem 6
The molar absorptivity for aqueous solutions of phenol at \(211 \mathrm{~nm}\) is \(6.17 \times 10^{5} \mathrm{~L} \mathrm{~cm}^{-1} \mathrm{~mol}^{-1}\). Calculate the permissible range of phenol concentrations if the transmittance is to be less than \(85 \%\) and greater than \(7 \%\) when the measurements are made in \(1.00-\mathrm{cm}\) cells.
Short Answer
Step by step solution
Understand Beer-Lambert Law
Calculate Absorbance for Given Transmittance Range
Apply Beer-Lambert Law to Find Concentration Range
Verify and Conclude Range of Concentrations
Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!
-
Full Textbook Solutions
Get detailed explanations and key concepts
-
Unlimited Al creation
Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...
-
Ads-free access
To over 500 millions flashcards
-
Money-back guarantee
We refund you if you fail your exam.
Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with 91Ó°ÊÓ!
Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Molar Absorptivity
It’s typically expressed in units of \( \text{L} \, \text{cm}^{-1} \, \text{mol}^{-1} \). The higher the molar absorptivity, the better the substance is at absorbing light, which results in a higher absorbance for a given concentration and path length.
In the case of phenol, given its molar absorptivity at \( 211 \, \mathrm{nm} \) is \( 6.17 \times 10^{5} \, \text{L} \, \text{cm}^{-1} \, \text{mol}^{-1} \), this value is crucial for calculating how changes in concentration would influence the absorbance under these conditions.
Transmittance
Transmittance is inversely related to absorbance, as shown by the equation \( A = -\log_{10}(T) \). This means that as the transmittance decreases, more light is absorbed, and the absorbance value increases.
- Transmittance of 85% corresponds to minimal absorbance, meaning the solution is mostly transparent.
- Transmittance of 7% indicates high absorbance, suggesting the solution is very opaque.
Concentration Range
For phenol, we aim to find the concentration range of phenol that allows transmittance between 7% and 85%. Calculated absorbances at those transmittance values lead us to determine the concentration limits:
- Upper Limit: A transmittance of 85% implies a minimal concentration of \( 1.14 \times 10^{-7} \) \( \text{mol/L} \).
- Lower Limit: A transmittance of 7% implies a maximum concentration of \( 1.87 \times 10^{-6} \) \( \text{mol/L} \).
Absorbance Calculation
To calculate absorbance, use the formula \( A = -\log_{10}(T) \), where \( T \) is transmittance. For instance:
- At a transmittance of 85% (or 0.85), the absorbance \( A_{max} \) is approximately 0.0706.
- At a transmittance of 7% (or 0.07), the absorbance \( A_{min} \) is approximately 1.1549.