Spectroscopically Determining Dye Concentration Digital Badge

Contact Information

The Spectroscopically Determining Dye Concentration badge is a competency badge offered by the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Quantitative spectroscopy content and skills are learned and demonstrated through academic coursework in an analytical chemistry laboratory setting.

Earning Criteria

Participants earning this badge are required to construct calibration models for two dyes, perform regression analysis to approximate the concentration of the dyes, assess the concentration of two dyes in a commercial beverage product, and recreate the same absorption in a mock product.

Competencies Demonstrated

1. Use volumetric glassware and a micropipette to make calibration standards of two dyes.
2. Operate a spectrometer to measure the absorbance of each standard.
3. Calculate the molar absorptivity for each dye at the chosen wavelengths.
4. Measure the absorbance of the control at the five chosen wavelengths.
5. Employ Excel’s Solver tool to approximate the concentration of each dye.
6. Estimate the concentration of a control. An accuracy of at least 10% is required.
7. Measure the absorbance of the commercial beverage at the five chosen wavelengths.
8. Create a mock beverage and spectroscopically compare the mock beverage to the commercial beverage.