Beer-Lambert's law

Definition

Beer-Lambert's law is a mathematical relationship that describes the absorption of light by a substance in solution. It states that the absorbance of light is directly proportional to the concentration of the absorbing species and the path length through which the light passes.

Related terms

Absorbance:

A measure of how much light is absorbed by a substance, determined using a spectrophotometer.

Concentration:

The amount of solute present in a given amount of solvent or solution.

Path Length:

The distance traveled by light through a sample, usually measured in centimeters.