A quantitative analysis based on the absorption of infrared radiation, although important, is less frequently encountered than those for UV/Vis absorption. One reason is the difficulty in establishing a 100% T (A = 0) baseline as the optical properties of NaCl sample cells may change significantly with wavelength due to contamination and degradation. We can minimize this problem by measuring absorbance relative to a baseline established for the absorption band, as shown here.
Determining Absorbance in IR Spectroscopy
About the Author
David Harvey
David T. Harvey is a Professor Emeritus of Chemistry and Biochemistry at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, where he has been a dedicated faculty member since 1986. Over his nearly four-decade career, Dr…
View contributions