What Is a Calibration Curve in a Spectrophotometer?

Spectrophotometers are prominent devices in many industries, and they offer value for many purposes. Calibration curves are one way users employ spectrophotometers. This technique, much like the device, is useful across many applications. At HunterLab, we specialize in spectrophotometers and support operations that create calibration curves.

What Is a Calibration Curve?

A calibration curve, also known as a standard curve, is a way to identify the concentration of an unknown substance. These curves use data points of known substances at varying concentrations, and researchers or developers can use these curves to find where an unknown substance plots. A spectrophotometer assists in gathering absorbance for varying concentrations.

This system of identifying unknown substances is valuable to many industries. For example, you may find a calibration curve in coffee production for determining a roast. With a plot of caffeine content, roasters can discover where a bean falls. A calibration curve for the food industry may chart food dye concentrations for gelatin.

Other applications can include:

• Pharmaceuticals
• Paints
• Plastics
• Chemical production

Simply put, a calibration curve in spectrophotometry is useful in any situation where a substance is unknown.

What Is a Spectrophotometer and How Is It Used?

A spectrophotometer is a device that measures the electromagnetic energy in varying wavelengths of light. A lamp inside the device creates a stream of light that feeds into a diffraction grating. This piece acts like a prism and separates the light beam into its different wavelengths. When a sample is placed inside, the grating exposes it to each wavelength individually to measure its absorbance and transmittance for each.

This device can help users identify concentrations for creating calibration curves. It’s also valuable for understanding color in industries where color is a vital standard for product performance. A spectrophotometer provides a quantity for color, rather than relying on inconsistencies of the human eye.

The Benefits of a Spectrophotometer

In addition to the ability to make calibration curves for various applications, a spectrophotometer offers a range of benefits. Researchers, developers and manufacturers use these devices because they offer:

• Flexibility: A spectrophotometer can measure anything that absorbs light, making it adaptable to numerous applications. It can read something as simple as an apple or as complex as bacteria.
• Accuracy: When it comes to measuring concentration or color, you can’t rely on human calculations to be accurate. With a spectrophotometer, you receive high-precision results every time.
• Speed: With the right spectrophotometer model, users can gather results in a few seconds, making it ideal for many applications. With faster measurements, developers can make more progress in less time.

Find Spectrophotometers for Your Application

Calibration curves are an excellent way to identify unknown substances, and spectrophotometers help you create these useful graphs. At HunterLab, our extensive selection of spectrophotometers allows users to create accurate calibration curves for their applications. Explore our full inventory or talk to our team today to learn more about what we can do for your operation.