Definition

Noun: - A dark band in the spectrum of white light that has been transmitted through a substance that exhibits absorption at selective wavelengths: An absorption band is a range of wavelengths (or frequencies) in the electromagnetic spectrum where a material absorbs light or other radiation more strongly than at adjacent wavelengths. This results in a dark line or band in an otherwise continuous spectrum.

Usage

• This term is used primarily in the fields of physics, chemistry, astronomy, and materials science to describe and analyze the interaction of light with matter.
• It is used to identify substances, as different materials have characteristic absorption bands.
• It often appears in discussions of spectroscopy, molecular structure, and atmospheric science.

Examples

• The scientist analyzed the absorption band in the infrared spectrum to identify the organic compound.
• Water vapor in the atmosphere creates a distinct absorption band that telescopes must account for.
• The graph showed a deep absorption band at 650 nm, indicating the presence of a specific pigment.

Advanced Usage

• "Band strength": Refers to the intensity or integrated area of an absorption band, which is related to the concentration of the absorbing species.
• "Bandwidth": In this context, it can refer to the width of the absorption band in the spectrum.
• "Vibrational absorption band": A specific type of band resulting from the absorption of energy that causes molecular vibrations, typically in the infrared region.

Variants and Related Words

• Absorption line: A very narrow absorption feature, as opposed to a broader band. Often used in atomic spectroscopy.
• Absorption spectrum: The overall pattern of absorption bands and lines across a range of wavelengths for a given substance.
• Absorptivity: A measure of a substance's ability to absorb radiation at a given wavelength.

Synonyms

• Spectral band (in the context of absorption)
• Absorption feature

Related Phrases

• To exhibit an absorption band: Describes a substance showing this spectral feature.
  • Ozone exhibits a strong absorption band in the ultraviolet region.
• To measure/identify an absorption band: Common collocations in scientific writing.
  • The experiment aimed to measure the absorption band of the new polymer.

Notes

• An absorption band is the opposite of an emission band, which is a bright band in a spectrum where a substance emits light.
• The position and shape of absorption bands are fundamental tools for determining the composition and properties of materials, from laboratory samples to distant stars.

Noun

1. a dark band in the spectrum of white light that has been transmitted through a substance that exhibits absorption at selective wavelengths